Pope Leo has firmly rejected criticism from United States President Donald Trump, insisting he will continue speaking out against war, violence and global suffering despite political pressure from Washington.
The pontiff made the remarks on Monday, April 13, 2026, while speaking to journalists aboard a papal flight to Algiers, where he began a 10-day tour covering four African countries.
Responding to Trump’s public criticism of his recent comments on international conflicts and immigration policy, Pope Leo said he had “no fear of the Trump administration” and would not be deterred from his advocacy for peace.
“I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems,” he said.
He added that the scale of global suffering made silence impossible. “Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way,” the Pope said.
Pope Leo, the first American to head the Roman Catholic Church, also dismissed suggestions that his interventions were political in nature, insisting his role is spiritual and grounded in Christian teaching.
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“The message of the Gospel: Blessed are the peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political, a politician,” he said.
His response comes after Trump described him as “terrible for foreign policy” and “weak on crime” in a post on Truth Social, and urged him to focus on his religious duties rather than political commentary.
The US president’s remarks followed the Pope’s recent criticism of global conflicts, including tensions involving Iran, which he has described as “madness of war,” and his repeated calls for diplomatic engagement to reduce violence.
Pope Leo has also drawn attention for questioning the consistency of hardline immigration policies with Catholic teaching on human dignity, urging reflection on the treatment of migrants in the United States.
The exchange marks a rare public confrontation between a sitting US president and a pope, underscoring growing tensions over war, migration policy and the moral framing of international affairs.
Despite the backlash, Pope Leo maintained that the Church must continue to speak on behalf of peace and vulnerable populations, even when such positions draw political criticism.