Pope Leo XIV said he has “no fear of the Trump administration” and will continue to speak out against war, after US President Donald Trump criticised his comments on the Iran conflict.

Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria on Monday, Pope Leo said he would not enter into a political debate but would continue promoting peace and dialogue.

“I am not afraid of the Trump administration. I speak about the Gospel, I am not a politician,” the Pope said, adding that too many people were suffering due to ongoing conflicts.

The remarks come after Trump launched a sharp criticism of the US-born pontiff, calling him “weak” and “terrible for foreign policy” following Pope Leo’s opposition to the US-Israel war in Iran and calls for peaceful dialogue.

Pope Leo, who has repeatedly warned about the escalation of the Iran conflict, stressed that his position is rooted in the Church’s message of peace and multilateral dialogue, not politics.

Despite the criticism, the Pope said he would continue to speak out against war and push for diplomatic solutions, saying that “too many people are suffering in the world.”  (Newswire)

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