Pope Leo will not wrestle with the pig [View all]

https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-trump-war-iran-peace-f9980c81d36fad024cce788c915c16eb

Pope Leo XIV says ‘not in my interest at all’ to debate Trump but will keep preaching peace
By NICOLE WINFIELD
Updated 10:40 AM CDT, April 18, 2026

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Leo XIV said Saturday that it was “not in my interest at all” to debate U.S. President Donald Trump about the Iran war, but that he would continue preaching the Gospel message of peace.

Leo spoke to reporters aboard the papal plane flying from Cameroon to Angola as part of his 11-day tour of Africa.

He addressed the spiraling back-and-forth saga of Trump’s critiques of his peace message, which have dominated news headlines this week. But the American pope also sought to set the record straight, insisting that his preaching isn’t directed at Trump, but reflects the broader Gospel message of peace.

“There’s been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects, but because of the political situation created when, on the first day of the trip, the president of the United States made some comments about myself,” he said.

...