Pope Leo XIV arrived in Angola, the third stop on his extensive African tour, where he began his visit by sharply criticizing the mechanisms of natural resource exploitation in the Black Continent. The Pope condemned the behavior of those he described as 'autocrats and tyrants' who make false promises of wealth while causing suffering to their people, calling on Angolan society to free itself from the shackles of the opulent elites.
In a striking political context, the Pontiff sought to calm escalating tensions with US President Donald Trump, noting that media reports regarding his previous statements were not entirely accurate. The Pope affirmed to journalists on the plane heading to Angola that his message was not directly targeting the US administration, as some news circles had promoted.
The first American Pope in the history of the Catholic Church clarified that his speech delivered in Cameroon two days prior about the destruction of the world by 'a handful of tyrants' had been prepared in advance. He indicated that the text was written two weeks before the recent comments by the US President, which refutes any premeditated intention to respond to Trump's statements or engage in a verbal conflict with him.
US President had launched a sharp attack on the Pope via the 'Truth Social' platform, describing him as weak in the face of crime and failing to manage foreign policy. This attack coincided with Trump's posting of an AI-generated image depicting him in a controversial religious guise, which sparked a wave of widespread criticism even among his religious conservative supporters.
The roots of the public dispute between the two parties date back to the Pope's repeated criticisms of military policies, specifically the stance on the American-Israeli war against Iran. Despite the personal attack by Trump, Pope Leo XIV affirmed his commitment to continue speaking about peace and rejecting wars, emphasizing that his moral duty compels him to speak the truth regardless of political reactions.
Pope Leo, born in Chicago, displayed during his current tour a frank and direct style uncharacteristic of the early months of his papacy. His speeches in Africa focused on issues of economic inequality, political corruption, and the devastating effects of armed conflicts, reflecting a new direction for the Vatican in dealing with issues of the Global South.
This African tour is considered one of the most logistically and security-wise complex papal missions in many decades. The Pope is scheduled to travel up to 18,000 kilometers, including 18 flights and intensive visits to 11 cities in four different countries, with the aim of strengthening the Church's presence and supporting social justice issues on the continent.
In his concluding remarks from Angola, the Pope stressed the importance of building societies based on transparency and fair distribution of wealth, away from the 'false bliss' enjoyed by dominant powers. Informed sources confirmed that the Vatican seeks through this visit to consolidate the Church's role as a mediator for peace in conflict areas, away from narrow political tug-of-wars with major powers.
It seemed as if I was trying to get into an argument with the President, and I am not interested in that at all.
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From Angola.. Pope clarifies truth of his dispute with Trump and criticizes African 'tyrants'