Pope defends anti-war stance after criticism from Trump

Pope Leo XIV has said he will continue to «speak out loudly» against war following criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump over his positions on immigration and the conflict involving Iran, the BBC reported.

Trump described the Pope as «weak on crime» and «terrible for foreign policy» in a social media post, later telling reporters he was «not a big fan.» He also suggested the pontiff was ineffective in addressing global security concerns, particularly regarding nuclear threats.

Speaking to reporters during a flight to Algeria, the Pope declined to engage directly with Trump’s remarks. He emphasized that his role is not political but moral, stating that he would continue advocating peace, dialogue and cooperation between nations.

The Pope has been a consistent critic of the war involving Iran and previously called Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization «unacceptable,» urging efforts to de-escalate the conflict. He has also voiced opposition to strict immigration policies, questioning their compatibility with humanitarian values.