Pope Leo vows to ‘speak out loudly’ after Trump calls him ‘weak’

Pope Leo XIV told reporters aboard a papal flight from Rome to Algiers on Monday that he is “not afraid” of Donald Trump’s administration and will continue to “speak out loudly” against the US‑Israeli war on Iran. “I speak of the Gospel and therefore I will continue to speak out loudly against the war. I have no intention of entering into a debate with him,” the pontiff said, referring to Trump. He spoke as he began a 10‑day visit to Africa that will include Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.

Trump’s Attack

In a Truth Social post, Trump said he did not want “a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.” He called Pope Leo “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” and suggested that Leo’s election as head of the Catholic Church was politically motivated. “Because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J Trump. If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican,” Trump wrote.