April 13, 2026 – 09:02
INTERNATIONAL EDITORIAL. Pope Leo XIV today began a tour of several African countries for one of his first longest missions. From the papal plane he expressed his firmness against the war in the Middle East and the Donald Trump Administration, which attacked the pontiff for his position on the conflict.
In a video that circulates through social networks, the Pope Leo XIV was approached by journalists about the war in the Middle East and criticism of donald trump to the pontiff’s position on the war conflict.
The pontiff told the communicators who accompany him on this tour and which takes him for 10 days to Africa: “I do not fear the Trump administration nor do I shy away from raising my voice to proclaim the message of the Gospel, which is, in essence, the mission of the Church,” and added “We are not political actors, but we deeply believe in the Gospel as a path and strength to build peace.”
The war in Middle East began on February 28 after the United States and Israel launched a “preventive” attack against Iran. He responded with strong retaliation against American interests in the region. Meanwhile, the conflict has a global impact on the economic sector.
Read more: Trump’s “unacceptable” attack on the Pope outrages Italian politics and the church
Peace and reconciliation
According to the EFE agency, during the flight to Algeria for his third international trip, “the things I say do not have to be understood as an attack on anyone. The message of the gospel is very clear: Blessed are those who build peace.”
He emphasized that he is only inviting “everyone to find a way to build bridges of peace and reconciliation, to look for ways to avoid war whenever possible.”
“I think the president is not understanding what the message of the gospel is,” said the pontiff, who feels “very sorry” for the words that Trump addressed to him, but he, as he stated, will continue with his mission.
Read more: Iran denies US blockade of Hormuz and issues warning to ships
Trump attack
“I think it is very important to return to that path, whether through the United Nations, or in other ways, and work for peace,” he added. Leo XIV.
The American president, donald trumpattacked on Sunday against the Pope Leo XIV and said that he is “terrible in foreign policy” alluding to his criticism of Iran and Venezuela, and urged him to “stop pandering to the radical left.”
“Pope León is WEAK on crime and terrible in foreign policy,” the president wrote on his Truth Social network, in a long message in which he urges him to “focus on being a great pope, not a politician,” because “he is harming the Catholic Church.”
