Pope Leo XIV Says ‘No Fear’ After Trump Criticism

Pope Leo XIV has said he has “no fear” of the Trump administration and will continue to speak out against war, following criticism from Donald Trump over his remarks on the Iran conflict.

Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria on Monday, the Pope said he would avoid political confrontation while continuing to promote peace and dialogue.

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

The comments follow sharp criticism from Trump, who described the US-born pontiff as “weak” and “terrible for foreign policy” after the Pope opposed the US–Israel war involving Iran and called for restraint and diplomatic engagement.

Pope Leo XIV reiterated that his stance is rooted in the Church’s message of peace and multilateral dialogue rather than politics, stressing the need to reduce global suffering.

Despite the criticism, he affirmed that he will continue to advocate against war and push for diplomatic solutions, noting that “too many people are suffering in the world.”