In brief
In a powerful address during his African tour, Pope Leo criticized global leaders who spend billions on warfare while ignoring pressing humanitarian needs. This critique comes on the heels of a public dispute with President Trump, who took issue with the Pope's comments on military conflicts, particularly focusing on the situation in Iran. The Pope emphasized the urgent need for peace and resources dedicated to healing rather than destruction, reflecting his concerns about ongoing violence in regions like Cameroon.
Pope Leo has criticized leaders who spend billions on wars and said the world was being ravaged by a handful of tyrants in unusually forceful comments during a visit to Cameroon. The pontiff blasted those he said had manipulated the very name of God for their own gain, while touring a region ravaged by a deadly insurgency.The remarks come just days after a high-profile spat with US President Donald Trump, who posted a lengthy attack on the Pope, a vocal critic of the US-Israeli military operation in Iran. The Pope had voiced his concern about Trump's threat that a whole civilization will die if Iran did not agree to US demands to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz. Leo, who last year became the first US-born Pope, has previously also questioned the Trump administration's approach to immigration. Leo should get his act together as Pope, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post at the time. The Pope told reporters at the start of his Africa tour that he did not want to get into a debate with Trump but would continue to promote peace.Speaking in Cameroon, the Pope criticized leaders who turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found. The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild, he said on Thursday.The Pope also condemned an endless cycle of destabilization and death in a bloodstained region of Cameroon that has been gripped by insurgency for nearly a decade. He addressed the reality that those who rob lands of resources often invest in weapons, perpetuating violence. The Pope emphasized that true peace must be embraced by accepting one another as neighbors. The message follows ongoing tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration, especially concerning U.S. foreign policies in conflict zones. Amidst this clash, the Pope highlighted the Catholic Church's role in advocating for peace in the war-torn continent, as he continues a significant tour across Africa.
