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  "path": "/2026/04/18/pope-leo-xiv-says-tyrants-remarks-not-aimed-trump-28025152/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-18T14:52:43.000Z",
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  "textContent": "Pope Leo XIV gives a speech, criticising world leaders for what he described as spending billions on ‘killing and devastation’ (Picture: Reuters)\n\n**Pope Leo XIV has said it is ‘not in my interest at all’ to debate Donald Trump about the Iran war as he sought to downplay the extraordinary confrontation between the Vatican and the White House.**\n\nSpeaking to reporters in English on the papal plane to Angola on the latest leg of his 11-day tour of Africa, Leo addressed the fall-out between the world’s two most powerful Americans.\n\nHe clarified that his remarks earlier this week decrying a world that is being ‘ravaged by a handful of tyrants’ were not aimed at the US president.\n\nThe speech made headlines around the world after being read as the pope fighting back against the administration and taking on Trump head-on.\n\nBut Leo, the first US pope, told reporters today that the text ‘was prepared two weeks ago, well before the president ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting’.\n\n‘There’s been a certain narrative 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 myself,’ he said.\n\n##  Sign up for all of the latest stories\n\nStart your day informed with Metro's **News Updates** newsletter or get **Breaking News** alerts the moment it happens.\n\n‘Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary, trying to interpret what has been said.’\n\nTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo\n\nUp Next\n\nPrevious Page\n\nNext Page\n\nPope Leo XIV briefs the press aboard a flight on his way to Luanda, Angola (Picture: EPA)\n\nTrump’s Truth Social post which bizarrely hit out at the pope for being ‘WEAK on crime’ (Picture: Truth Social/@realDonaldTrump)\n\nLeo has issued consistent calls for peace and dialogue and has denounced the use of religious justification for war.\n\nSpecifically, he called Trump’s threat to annihilate Iranian civilization ‘truly unacceptable’.\n\nOn Sunday, as Leo prepared to embark on his tour, Trump called him ‘WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy’ in a bizarre rant posted on Truth Social.\n\nTrump also posted an AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure, drawing widespread criticism even from some religious conservatives who typically support him.\n\nThe post was removed on Monday morning.\n\nTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo\n\nUp Next\n\nPrevious Page\n\nNext Page\n\nTrump appeared to be responding to Leo’s growing criticism in recent weeks of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.\n\nPope Leo declared on Monday that he would keep speaking out about the war.\n\nTrump then followed up on his criticism of the pope on Tuesday.\n\nOn Thursday, Leo blasted leaders who spend billions on wars and said the world was ‘being ravaged by a handful of tyrants’, though he did not mention Trump directly again.\n\n‘As it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate the president, which is not in my interest at all,’ he said on Saturday.\n\nLooking ahead, however, he said that he would continue preaching the Gospel.\n\n‘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 the Catholics throughout Africa,’ he said.\n\nHe drew attention to some upcoming liturgical readings about what it means to be Christian and to follow Christ, promote fraternity and brotherhood, ‘but also looking for ways to promote justice in our world, promote peace in our world’.\n\nLeo, originally from Chicago, kept a relatively low profile for a pope in his first 10 months but has debuted a new forceful speaking style in Africa, sharply denouncing war, inequality and global leaders.\n\nHis Africa tour is one of the most complicated ever arranged for a pontiff, with stops in 11 cities and towns in four countries, traversing more than 11,000 miles over 18 flights.\n\n******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.******\n\n**For more stories like this,** check our news page.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Pope Leo XIV says his ‘tyrants’ remarks were not aimed at Trump"
}