AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Following the escalation of verbal tensions between Donald Trump and the American Pope Leo, the U.S. president, in unprecedented remarks, described the leader of the world's Catholics as "terrible"—an action that drew a clear response from the Pope.
Pope Leo, in response to these attacks, declared that he has "no fear" of the U.S. government and emphasized that he will continue to criticize war and defend peace. This stance comes as he has spoken with increasing clarity against Washington's policies in recent weeks.
Trump's remarks came after the Pope had strongly criticized the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, as well as the U.S. government's immigration policies. He had previously described these approaches as contrary to humanitarian principles and religious teachings.
Pope Leo, during an airborne trip to Algeria to begin a 10-day tour of Africa on Monday, stated that despite the pressure, he will raise his voice against war even louder and will strive to promote dialogue and just solutions.
Referring to the critical state of the world, he said, "Many innocent people are being killed, and human suffering is increasing; someone must stand up and say there is a better way."
The Pope also emphasized that the message of Christianity, which is based on peace, has been "misused" in some cases, and called on world leaders to pursue the path of diplomacy rather than escalating conflicts.
In contrast, Trump, continuing his attacks, wrote on social media that the Pope should "focus on his own work," accusing him of interfering too much in politics. He also described the Pope as "weak" on nuclear weapons.
In response, Pope Leo stated that he does not consider himself a politician and speaks solely based on the message of the Gospel, which emphasizes peace and reconciliation. He said, "Blessed are the peacemakers; that is my message, not a political stance."
Amid this tension, the release of a ridiculous AI-generated image by Trump depicting himself as Jesus Christ sparked widespread reactions on social media, further intensifying the criticism.
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