"I have no fear of the Trump administration," Pope Leo said in response to the president's lengthy post, before calling the name of Trump's Truth Social platform "ironic"
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NEED TO KNOW
- Trump accused Pope Leo of being weak on crime and foreign policy in a Truth Social post on Sunday, April 12
- Pope Leo responded to Trump’s criticism, saying his role is to promote peace and the Gospel’s message
- Leo also emphasized his focus on non-political leadership
Pope Leo is speaking out after Donald Trump slammed him in a Truth Social post on Sunday, April 12.
While talking with reporters on a flight to Algeria on Monday, April 13, the American pope, 70, did not seem concerned by the growing tension between himself and the U.S. president.
“I have no fear of the Trump administration, or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do,” he said, per The New York Times.
Leo clarified, “The things I say are not meant as attacks on anyone.”
In Trump's message on Sunday, he described Pope Leo as “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.”
“I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA,” Trump claimed. “He gets it, and Leo doesn't!”
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“I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon," Trump added. "I don't want a Pope who thinks it's terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country.”
Continuing the post Trump added, “And I don't want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I'm doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do.”
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Trump went on to take credit for Pope Leo's appointment, saying, “If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican." He also claimed that the Catholic church elected an American pope because the church “thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”
Of the president's message, Leo replied, "I'm sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today."
The leader of the Catholic church added on Monday, “I do not look at my role as being political, a politician. I don't want to get into a debate with him. I don't think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing.”
“I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems," Leo added in reference to America and Israel's war with Iran.
"Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there's a better way.”
When asked directly about Trump's Truth Social post, Leo simply added, “It's ironic — the name of the site itself. Say no more.”
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