by a Democrat reporter
During the short flight to Algeria, Pope Leo addressed the journalists—as is tradition on papal flights—answering questions about statements by US President Donald Trump against him on the Truth Social network.
The Pope stressed that he does “not see my role as that of a politician. I am not a politician, and I do not want to enter into a debate with him.”
President Trump failed to divert Pope Leo from his mission for peace, although he took the attack on himself seriously.
The US president wrote on social media that the Pope “should get his act together” and said he was “weak on nuclear weapons”, apparently referring to Tehran’s attempts to become a nuclear power, cited as one of the reasons for the US and Israel going to war with Iran.
He also suggested that the pontiff was elected “because he was American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J Trump”.
“If I weren’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
Asked by reporters to explain the post, he later said: “I don’t think he’s doing a very good job, he likes crime, I guess.”
Trump added: “He’s a very liberal person, and he’s a man who doesn’t believe in stopping crime, he’s a man who doesn’t believe we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world.”
Pope Leo responded, “I do not think the message of the Gospel should be abused as some are doing. I continue to speak strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, dialogue, and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems. Too many people are suffering today, too many innocent lives have been lost, and I believe someone must stand up and say there is a better way.”
Responding to an American journalist who asked the same question, the Holy Father explained, “I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the Church is here to do.”
“We are not politicians,” he argued. “We don’t deal with foreign policy with the same perspective he might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker.”
An ongoing message of peace
Peace is one of the guiding themes of this Apostolic Journey to four African nations. This journey, Pope Leo explained, is special for several reasons, including that it was meant to be “the first of the pontificate.”
He expressed his joy at being able to revisit the land of St. Augustine, who, the Pope said, “offers a very important bridge in interreligious dialogue.” This opportunity to travel to the place where this North African saint served as bishop is a blessing for the Pope, but he stressed, “also for the Church and for the world, because we must always seek bridges to build peace and reconciliation.”
