Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestylePope Leo strongly criticised leaders for spending billions on wars and described the world as "being ravaged by a handful of tyrants" during remarks in Cameroon. He condemned leaders who use religious language to justify conflicts, calling for a "decisive change of course" in a region affected by a simmering conflict. The pontiff highlighted the vast sums spent on "killing and devastation" compared to the lack of resources for healing, education, and restoration. These forceful comments follow repeated social media attacks on Pope Leo by U.S. President Trump, which have caused dismay in Africa. Pope Leo has emerged as an outspoken critic of the war initiated by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, previously criticising leaders with "hands full of blood". Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

The Pope has repeatedly called for peace in the Middle East, drawing criticism from the Trump administration

Trump’s comments on Sunday follow a decade of disputes between the U.S. leader and his Vatican counterparts on topics spanning war to migration