Pope Leo XIV has said he has no desire to enter into a public quarrel with President Donald Trump, pushing back against suggestions that recent papal remarks on war and peace were intended as a direct rejoinder to the American president. The comments were made during an in-flight exchange with journalists as the Pope travelled from Cameroon to Angola on 18 April, the third stage of his African visit.
Speaking aboard the papal plane, Leo said some coverage of his recent interventions had been distorted by an atmosphere of political commentary that arose after remarks made by Trump at the start of the trip. He argued that too much subsequent reporting had focused on interpreting reactions and counter-reactions, rather than on what he had actually said.
