Headlines
Pope Leo Downplays Feud With Trump, Says ‘not in My Interest’ to Debate Him
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 18, 2026
1 min readLast updated: April 18, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleQuick Summary
Pope Leo XIV, amid escalating tensions with President Trump during his Africa tour, clarified that his remarks criticizing global 'tyrants' were not aimed at Trump and noted that his speech was prepared long before Trump’s comments.
Pope Leo Downplays Feud With Trump, Clarifies Comments on Africa Tour
Pope Leo Addresses Media Amid Africa Tour Controversy
Clarification on Remarks About World Leaders
LUANDA, April 18 (Reuters) - Pope Leo sought to downplay his feud with U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday, saying reporting about comments he has made so far during his Africa tour "has not been accurate in all its aspects."
Context of the Africa Tour
Speaking to journalists in English aboard his flight to Angola for the third leg of his ambitious 10-day Africa tour, the first U.S. pope said comments he made two days earlier in Cameroon decrying that the world was being "ravaged by a handful of tyrants" were not aimed at Trump.
Preparation and Timing of the Speech
That speech, said Leo, "was prepared two weeks ago, well before the president ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting."
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Key Takeaways
- •Pope Leo XIV emphasized that his recent remarks during his Africa tour were misreported and were not directed at President Trump, noting the speech had been prepared two weeks earlier.
- •His Cameroon speech condemned leaders who exploit religion for military, economic or political gain, describing the world as “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants.”
- •The pope is proceeding with his Africa tour — including stops in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea — insisting his priority remains promoting peace and dialogue over engaging in a public feud.
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Pope Leo downplays feud with Trump, says ‘not in my interest’ to debate him
1Did Pope Leo directly criticize President Trump during his Africa tour?
No, Pope Leo clarified that his comments about tyrants were not directed at Trump.
2Why did Pope Leo's comments cause media controversy?
Media reports misinterpreted his prior remarks as being aimed at President Trump.
3Where did Pope Leo make his clarifying statement?
He spoke to journalists on his flight to Angola during his Africa tour.
4Was Pope Leo's speech prepared before Trump's remarks about him?
Yes, Pope Leo stated the speech was prepared two weeks before Trump's comments.
5What message is Pope Leo promoting on his Africa tour?
Pope Leo is promoting peace on his ambitious 10-day trip across Africa.
