Pope Leo on Trump: 'Not in my interest' to debate him

Pope Leo says he has 'no fear' of the Trump admin

President Donald Trump has recently criticized Pope Leo XIV on social media over what appears to be differences related to the ongoing conflict in Iran. "Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump began in a lengthy post. "I have no fear of the Trump administration," Pope Leo told reporters in response. White House reporter Sophia Cai, co-author of West Wing Playbook at POLITICO, joins LiveNOW's Andy Mac to discuss this story and the latest White House headlines. 

In the latest back-and-forth comments involving President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, Leo said it is "not in my interest at all" to debate Trump about the war in Iran but that he would continue preaching the Gospel message of peace.

Leo made the remarks as he spoke to reporters aboard the papal plane flying from Cameroon to Angola on Saturday. 

Pope Leo XIV (C) arrives at the "4 de Fevereiro" Luanda International Airport in Luanda on the sixth day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa, on April 18, 2026. (Photo by Julio Pacheco Ntela / AFP via Getty Images)

What they're saying:

"As it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate the president, which is not in ​my interest at all," the pontiff said on Saturday.

"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 myself," he said, according to The Associated Press. 

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

RELATED: Trump blasts Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social: "Weak on crime" and foreign policy

Trump and Pope Leo comments

Trump on Pope: "don't think he's doing a very good job"

Talking with reporters Sunday night, Pres. Trump said he "didn't care" if Iran returned to the negotiating table after weekend discussions failed to yield a deal. He also criticized the Pope, saying "he likes crime, I guess."

The backstory:

Last weekend, Pope Leo hosted a prayer vigil for peace in which he criticized the "delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive."

"Enough of the idolatry of self and money!  Enough of the display of power!  Enough of war!  True strength is shown in serving life," Leo said during the vigil, which was held at St. Peter's Basilica.

The next day, Trump took aim at the pope in a Truth Social post, saying Leo was "weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy." 

Then on Monday, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself that many likened to a depiction of Jesus, which drew widespread criticism. The photo was eventually deleted. 

Later in the week, while speaking in Cameroon, Pope Leo decried that the world was being "ravaged by a ​handful of tyrants."

What they're saying:

Leo addressed the Cameroon remarks specifically also on Saturday, saying that was not aimed at Trump. 

That speech, said Leo, "was ⁠prepared two weeks ago, well before the president ever commented on myself and ​on the message of peace that I am promoting".

The other side:

The Vatican has stressed that when Leo preaches about peace, he is referring to all wars ravaging the planet, not just the Iran conflict. The Russian Orthodox Church, for example, has justified Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as a "holy war."

Pope Leo in Angola

Meanwhile:

Leo is in the middle of an 11-day tour of Africa. He arrived in Angola Saturday, the third stop out of four. 

What they're saying:

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