Pope Leo XIV has said he is not interested in engaging in a public debate with US President Donald Trump, stressing that his ongoing trip to Africa is centred on peacebuilding rather than political confrontation.
The first American pontiff made the remarks on Saturday while speaking to journalists aboard the papal aircraft from Cameroon to Angola, noting that what he described as a “political situation” triggered by Trump’s criticism had fuelled inaccurate interpretations of his 11-day African tour.
Ahead of the pope’s departure on April 13 for a four-nation visit, Trump had launched a series of attacks on him via his Truth Social platform, with the criticism continuing for several days.
However, Pope Leo said he was not seeking any confrontation with the US leader and suggested that commentary surrounding his visit had been distorted.
“There has been a certain narrative (about the visit) that has not been accurate in all of its aspects but because of the political situation created when, on the first day of the trip, the President of the United States made some comments about me,” the pope said on board the plane from Yaoundé to Luanda.
“Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary, trying to interpret what has been said.”
He also referenced a speech delivered on Thursday in Bamenda, Cameroon, where he spoke about global conflicts and criticised world leaders for prioritising military spending over peace.
“The talk that I gave at the prayer meeting for peace a couple of days ago was prepared two weeks ago, well before the president had ever commented on myself and the message of peace that I am promoting,” he said on board Saturday’s flight. “And yet, as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest at all.”
On board the flight to Algeria on 13 April, Leo had already responded to Trump’s online attacks, saying he was not intimidated by the US administration and would continue advocating for peace.
The exchanges have since developed into a rare and largely one-sided public clash between a sitting US president and a US-born pope.
The pontiff’s African tour is the longest of his papacy and comes at a time when the Catholic Church is expanding rapidly across the continent, which is home to roughly a fifth of the world’s Catholic population, according to Vatican figures.
“I primarily come to Africa as a pastor, as the head of the Catholic Church, to be with, to celebrate with, to encourage and accompany all of the Catholics throughout Africa,” Leo said Saturday.
He added that his visit was focused on “dialogue, promotion of fraternity, true understanding, acceptance, peacebuilding with people of all faiths.”
