Pope Leo XIV said it is "not in my interest" to "debate" President Donald Trump on April 18, amid what appeared to be an ongoing and very public feud between the two over the war in Iran.
Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, told reporters a speech he gave in Cameroon that decried "tyrants" and those who "manipulate religion" for military and political gain was actually written weeks ago and not meant to respond to Trump's latest criticisms. Reporting about those comments "has not been accurate in all its aspects," the pontiff said.
"Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth," Leo said on April 16 during his four-country tour of Africa, adding that the world was "being ravaged by a handful of tyrants."
"As it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate the president, which is not in my interest at all,” the pope said April 18.
The remarks in Cameroon didn't mention Trump or the Iran war by name, but Leo has made clear he rejects the U.S.- and Israeli-launched conflict. His outspokenness about the war drew direct attacks on social media from the president. In response, Leo XIV told Reuters earlier in the week that he would keep speaking out about the war.
