Pope Leo has warned that the world is being torn apart by “tyrants,” delivering a forceful message following criticism from US President Donald Trump over his comments on the war with Iran.
The pontiff, who has increasingly spoken out against the conflict, reiterated calls for peace in his address, while also condemning the use of religion to justify violence by world leaders.
“The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters,” Leo said in a speech during a visit to Cameroon’s largest city, Bamenda, on Thursday.
Later in the day, Trump played down the dispute with the pope, telling reporters he has “a right to disagree with the pope.”
“The pope made a statement. He says Iran can have a nuclear weapon. I say Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.
Leo arrived in Cameroon’s capital, Yaounde, on Wednesday as part of a four-nation tour of Africa.
On arrival, he urged authorities to intensify efforts to combat corruption amid ongoing violence between government forces and Anglophone separatist groups.
On Thursday, the pope visited Bamenda, the epicenter of a deadly civil conflict, where he was welcomed by large crowds, many waving “peace branches” as he arrived in the popemobile.
Among those present was Jamconfidence Masha, a local clothes maker whose shop was destroyed during the violence, who said the pope’s visit symbolized “love, hope and unity.”
The city has been heavily affected by the conflict, which has left more than 65,000 people dead and displaced over half a million others.
During his visit, Leo listened to testimonies from victims of the crisis, including accounts from nuns who had been kidnapped during the unrest.
He also criticized those who “manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”
Turning his attention to Africa’s resources, the pope condemned exploitation and its link to violence, saying, “Those who rob your land of its resources generally invest much of the profit in weapons, thus perpetuating an endless cycle of destabilization and death.”
“It is a world turned upside down, an exploitation of God’s creation that must be denounced and rejected by every honest conscience.”
Trump had earlier escalated his criticism of Leo on Sunday, describing his stance on the Iran war as problematic and saying he is “terrible for foreign policy.”
“We don’t like a pope that’s going to say that it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon. … He’s a man that doesn’t think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world,” Trump told reporters, adding, “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo.”
The pope responded later while aboard his flight on Monday, saying, “The things I say are not meant as attacks on anyone,” but added, “I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel.”
On Thursday, Trump downplayed the confrontation, insisting he was not “fighting” with the pope and stressing that the pontiff is free to “say what he wants.”
