Pope Leo XIV said today that he has no intention of engaging in a public dispute with President Donald Trump over the war with Iran, emphasizing instead that his role is to continue promoting a call for peace.

Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane en route from Cameroon to Angola, the pontiff addressed the growing attention surrounding his recent remarks and the responses they have drawn from Trump.

He noted that much of the coverage has been shaped by misinterpretations, particularly following comments made by the U.S. president early in the trip.

“There’s been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects, but because of the political situation created when, on the first day of the trip, the president of the United States made some comments about me,” he said.

“Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary, trying to interpret what has been said.”

Trump’s criticism began in a Truth Social post on April 12, where he challenged the pope’s repeated calls for peace as the conflict—sparked by joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28 and followed by Iran’s retaliation—continues.

The president accused Leo of being lenient on crime, aligned with left-wing positions, and suggested that his election as the first American pope was tied to Trump’s influence.

Pope Leo has consistently urged dialogue and condemned the use of religion to justify violence, including sharply criticizing Trump’s warning about destroying Iranian civilization.

Specifically, he called Trump’s threat to annihilate Iranian civilization “truly unacceptable.”

The Vatican has clarified that the pope’s appeals for peace are universal in scope and not limited to the Iran conflict, but extend to all global conflicts.

For instance, religious leaders in Russia have framed Moscow’s war in Ukraine as a “holy war,” illustrating the broader concern over faith being used to support armed conflict.

In his remarks today, Pope Leo pointed back to a speech he delivered earlier in the week during a peace gathering in Bamenda, Cameroon.

That city has been at the center of a long-running separatist conflict in the country’s English-speaking western region.

He explained that the speech—in which he condemned a “handful of tyrants” for spreading war and exploitation—had been prepared two weeks earlier, before Trump’s comments.

“And yet as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest at all,” he said.

Looking forward, Pope Leo said his mission remains unchanged, centered on his pastoral responsibilities.

“I primarily come to Africa as a pastor, as the head of the Catholic Church to be with, to celebrate with, to encourage, and to accompany all the Catholics throughout Africa,” he said.

{Matzav.com}