Pope Leo XIV has pushed back against criticism from Donald Trump, making it clear he has no intention of stepping away from his public stance on peace and conflict.
Speaking to journalists aboard his flight to Algiers, the pope said he isn’t intimidated by the Trump administration and will continue speaking openly on global issues, especially war and peace.
He emphasized that his comments are not meant as personal attacks.
Instead, he sees his role as encouraging dialogue, urging people to find common ground, and working toward peace wherever possible.
“I won’t get into arguments,” he said calmly. “What I’m doing is inviting people to think about peace, reconciliation, and how we can prevent war.”
The pope also reiterated that his focus remains on the mission of the Church sharing the message of the Gospel rather than engaging in political disputes.
In his view, the Church and governments operate in very different spaces.
While political leaders focus on strategy and foreign policy, he said his responsibility is moral and spiritual: to speak as a peacemaker.
And despite the backlash, he made it clear he intends to continue on that path.
