Pope Leo Stands Against Trump, Cites Moral Duty to End War

Pope Leo XIV has affirmed that he has a “moral obligation” to speak out against war and encourage peace, despite fierce criticism from United States President Donald Trump. The Pope made the statement while en route from Rome to Algeria for a papal visit.

“The Church’s mission is very clear. The Gospel says, blessed are the peacemakers. The Church has a moral obligation to speak very clearly against war,” he said, as quoted by AFP on Tuesday (14/4/2026).

Pope Leo XIV stressed that he has no intention of debating with Trump and emphasised that he is not a politician. He also added that he is not intimidated by criticism from any party, including the Trump administration.

“I am not afraid, neither of the Trump administration nor of speaking loudly about the Gospel’s message,” the Pope said.

Previously, Trump condemned the Pope’s call to end the conflict in the Middle East, which intensified following the joint Israel-US attack on Iran at the end of February. Trump deemed the Pope’s statement wrong and asserted that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons.

“Pope Leo says wrong things. He is very much against what I am doing regarding Iran, and you cannot have Iran with nuclear weapons,” Trump said.

This tension also drew a response from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who described Trump’s criticism of the Pope as “unacceptable”. According to her, calling for peace and condemning war is natural for the leader of the Catholic Church.

During his visit to Algeria, the Pope also emphasised the importance of reconciliation and forgiveness. In a speech at the Martyrs’ Monument in Algiers, he urged all parties to remember that God desires peace for every nation.

This visit holds special significance for the Pope, as Algeria is the birthplace of Saint Augustine, the great theologian who serves as a spiritual inspiration for his papacy. The Pope described the trip as a valuable opportunity to promote global peace and reconciliation.

Additionally, the Pope once again criticised threats to Iranian civilians and touched on the treatment of migrants, which he deemed inhumane. He affirmed that the Church does not conduct foreign policy but voices universal moral values.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to launch criticisms, calling the Pope weak in facing evil and poor in foreign policy. Even Trump’s controversial post portraying himself as a religious figure drew condemnation from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who described it as an insult.