Pope Leo XIV pushes back on criticism from Pres. Trump, renews call for peace

Pope Leo XIV responded forcefully to criticism from Donald Trump on Monday, saying he has “no fear” of the administration and will continue speaking out on global conflicts based on his religious mission.

Speaking to reporters while traveling to Algeria as part of a multi-country African visit, the Chicago-born pontiff emphasized that his role is not political but rooted in faith. “I have no fear of the Trump administration, nor speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel,” he said, adding that his duty is to promote peace and reconciliation. He stressed that his comments are not personal attacks, noting, “The message of the Gospel is very clear, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’”

Tensions between the two escalated after Leo repeatedly called for an end to violence worldwide, including conflicts in Iran, Sudan, Ukraine, and the Middle East. He warned that a “delusion of omnipotence” is helping drive wars and urged leaders to pursue dialogue before violence spirals further. The pope has consistently argued that “God does not bless any conflict” and has appealed for negotiations to prevent further suffering.

Trump, however, sharply criticized the pontiff on social media, calling him “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” and suggesting his papacy was politically motivated. He later added that Leo should focus on “being a Great Pope, not a Politician,” and declined to apologize, saying the pope’s views on Iran were “wrong.”

Leo rejected that framing, saying, “I do not look at my role as being political,” and declined to engage in a direct back-and-forth. “I don’t want to get into a debate with him,” he said, while reaffirming his commitment to advocating for peace, multilateral cooperation, and humanitarian solutions. “Too many people are suffering… and I think someone has to stand up and say, ‘There’s a better way to do this.’” Meanwhile, the Pope continued his trip and message, calling for unity and dialogue. Reflecting on his visit to Algeria, he highlighted the importance of building bridges across cultures and faiths, reinforcing his broader appeal for peace in a world he says is growing increasingly indifferent to violence.

Adding to the controversy, Trump posted — and later deleted — an AI-generated image depicting himself in a Christ-like role healing a sick man. The image sparked backlash across the political spectrum, including from some of his supporters, who viewed it as inappropriate. Trump defended the post, saying, “I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor,” dismissing criticism as media misinterpretation. The post appeared on Orthodox Easter and drew particular scrutiny for its religious imagery. Despite the uproar, Trump maintained it was intended to portray him “making people better.”

Editorial credit: Marco Iacobucci Epp / Shutterstock.com