So, US president Donald Trump has claimed Leo XIV would not be pope but for him?
True. On his Truth Social account last Sunday, Trump said: “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
He had advice for Pope Leo?
“Focus on being a great pope, not a politician,” Trump said.
What provoked all of this?
Last Saturday in St Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo spoke of praying for peace as “a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive”. He continued: “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”
‘Delusion of omnipotence’ – A bit pointed perhaps?
Trump certainly thought so. In that response last Sunday, he accused the pope of being “weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy”.” He did not want a pope “who thinks it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon”, who “thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a country that was sending massive amounts of drugs into the United States,” or who “criticises the president of the United States”.
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Phew. But did the pope criticise Trump’s actions on Iran and Venezuela, or Trump himself?
Not directly, though that reference to “delusion of omnipotence” left little wriggle room.
Is that why the pope flew to Algeria on Monday, to escape the wrath of Trump?
No! The trip to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea – all in Africa, one of the fastest-growing regions in the Catholic Church – was long-planned.
So he just ignored Trump’s criticisms then?
He’s from the southside of Chicago. What do you think?
He didn’t?
He didn’t. On the plane to Algeria he said he had “no fear of the Trump administration” and would “continue to speak out loudly against war”.
How many battalions has the pope?
None. That’s not all. In Cameroon on Thursday Leo, like an Old Testament prophet, warned: “Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”
‘Woe’? Wow
But wait. He continued: “The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet a lifetime is often not enough to rebuild. They turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found.”
Any idea who he might be referring to?
Couldn’t possibly say. Not a clue. Leo also spoke of “a world turned upside down”, “ravaged by a handful of tyrants”.
Leo has form where Trump is concerned?
That could be said. In April last year, weeks before he became pope, he shared articles on X critical of Trump’s immigration policies. In February last year, he also shared articles critical of views held by US vice-president JD Vance.
[ War and Peace: A tale of two Easter messages from Donald Trump and Pope LeoOpens in new window ]
Safe to say Pope Leo is not popular in Maga circles then?
No. On his election last May, leading Maga activist Laura Loomer posted on X that Leo was “anti-Trump, anti-Maga, pro-open borders, and a total Marxist like Pope Francis”.
Beyond redemption then?
It would seem so.
