Pope Leo XIV stated, "I am not afraid of the Trump administration" and "I will continue to raise my voice to build peace." This was the pontiff's response to criticism from the U.S. president, who called him "weak on crime" and "terrible on foreign policy." The pope made these declarations on board the papal plane during a flight to Algeria, where he began his third international trip on Monday. "I believe in the message of the Gospel, which is to build peace," he added. Leo XIV said he is only inviting "everyone to seek ways to build bridges of peace and reconciliation, to find ways to avoid war whenever possible." "I think the president is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is," affirmed the pontiff, who feels "deeply" the words Trump directed at him, but he, he stated, will continue with his mission. He even joked when asked about the post on Truth Social, Trump's platform: "The name of the website is ironic, to say the least..." The disagreements between the pope and the president of his country of birth are beginning to mount. However, the trigger was that Leo XIV openly criticized an action by Trump, specifically his threat to end "an entire civilization" in his war with Iran: although without naming him, the pope has called it unacceptable and encouraged the faithful to "communicate" with congressmen to ask for peace. During this first Holy Week as pontiff, he has also denounced in his homilies "the dark hour" the world is living through because of the war, lamented "a humanity on its knees from so many examples of brutality" or called "blasphemous" the rulers who "want to win by killing" or "perceive themselves as powerful when they dominate." Pope Leo XIV also affirmed that "God does not bless any conflict," and those who are "disciples of Christ" are never on the side of "those who yesterday wielded the sword and today drop bombs," upon receiving in the Vatican the members of the Synod of the Chaldean Church of Baghdad. Furthermore, the pontiff from Chicago has already made it known that he will not travel to his country of birth this year, precisely when the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence is being commemorated. He will, however, travel today to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, and in June to Spain. "We are not politicians, we do not see foreign policy from the same perspective, but as builders of peace," said the pope with complete calm. And he added to the journalists, about 70 of them, including the EFE agency's correspondent: "I do not believe that the message of the Gospel should be twisted as some are doing." No one believed that the prudent and reserved pope would answer the questions the journalists asked him on board as he passed by to greet them one by one. "No, I am not afraid of the Trump administration, nor of proclaiming the message of the Gospel aloud, which is what I believe I must be here for, and that is why the Church is here. The message of the Gospel is very clear: Blessed are the peacemakers." "This is what I believe I must do, what the Church must do. We are not politicians, we do not deal with international politics with the same perspective that he (Trump) might have. I continue to manifest myself energetically against war, trying to promote peace, dialogue, and multilateralism with states to seek solutions to problems. Too many people are suffering today, too many innocent people have died, and I think someone must raise their voice." He also stated: "The things I say do not have to be understood as an attack on anyone." On July 4, U.S. Independence Day, Leo XIV has announced that he will spend it on the Italian island of Lampedusa (south), Europe's migratory gateway.
