Pope: "Not an Attack on Trump... Will Continue to Raise Voice Against War"

Bishop Lee Yonghoon is presiding over a thanksgiving mass for the election of Pope Leo XIV held last June at Myeongdong Cathedral in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

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Pope Leo XIV, who has been engaged in a war of words with U.S. President Donald Trump, stated that while he is wary of the situation turning into a political dispute, he will continue to deliver his anti-war message.

According to Bloomberg and other sources on the 13th (local time), the Pope said on his private flight to Algeria, "My criticism of the 'delusion of omnipotence' is not intended to directly attack President Trump or anyone else."

The Pope explained, "Fundamentally, the message of the Church, my message, and the message of the Gospel is that 'blessed are the peacemakers.'"

The previous day, President Trump criticized the Pope on social media, saying, "Leo needs to get his act together as Pope, use common sense, stop pandering to the radical left, and focus on being a great Pope rather than a politician."

The two have seen their conflict intensify in recent weeks over the war in Iran. The Pope's remarks are seen as an attempt to contain the situation from escalating into political controversy, while also reaffirming his commitment to speaking on universal values as the head of the Catholic Church.

The Pope stated, "I do not see my role as a politician. I do not wish to argue with him," and added, "I believe the message of the Gospel should not be misused in the way some people are doing now."

He went on to emphasize, "I will continue to raise my voice against war, promote peace, and work to encourage multilateral relations and dialogue between nations in order to find just solutions."

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