Luanda, Angola
Pope Leo XIV stated Saturday “it’s not in my interest” to debate US President Donald Trump, insisting his trip to Africa is targeted on peacebuilding reasonably than any private conflict.
The first American pope, chatting with reporters on board the papal airplane from Cameroon to Angola, stated the “political situation” brought on by Trump’s assaults on him had led to some inaccurate commentary throughout his 11-day trip to Africa.
Before Leo departed on his four-country tour on April 13, the president launched a broadside in opposition to the pope by way of his Truth Social platform, with the criticisms persevering with for a number of days.
But on Saturday, the pope stated he was not in search of to debate Trump and that “a certain narrative” concerning the trip had been fostered by the “political situation” created by the president.
“There has been a certain narrative (about the visit) 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,” the pope stated on board the airplane from Yaoundé to Luanda. “Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary, trying to interpret what has been said.”
The pope pointed to the speech he made Thursday in Bamenda, Cameroon, wherein he spoke of the world being ravaged by a “handful of tyrants” and leaders spending “billions of dollars” on battle.
“The talk that I gave at the prayer meeting for peace a couple of days ago was prepared two weeks ago, well before the president had ever commented on myself and the message of peace that I am promoting,” he stated on board Saturday’s flight. “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.”
On board the airplane to Algeria on 13 April, Leo responded to the president’s on-line assaults, saying he was not afraid of the Trump administration and would maintain pushing his message of peace. But current days have seen an unprecedented conflict – albeit largely one-sided – between a US pope and US president.
The pope’s go to to Africa is the longest of his hold forth and takes him to a continent the place the Catholic Church is rising. According to Vatican statistics, round a fifth of the world’s Catholics dwell in Africa.
“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 of the Catholics throughout Africa,” Leo stated Saturday.
He added that his time in Africa was about “dialogue, promotion of fraternity, true understanding, acceptance, peacebuilding with people of all faiths.”
