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Pope says 'tyrants' speech was not aimed at Trump

Pope says 'tyrants' speech was not aimed at Trump

The pontiff says his remarks have been misinterpreted after a spat with the US president.

April 18, 2026 at 04:44 PM Original source
12 agencies covered this story

Coverage by Political Leaning

See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story

Left
1 articles
Lean Left
2 articles
Center
7 articles
Lean Right
0 articles
No coverage
Right
2 articles

Notable Quotes

"And yet as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate, again, the president, which is not in my interest at all."

— Pope Leo , Activist

"The Pope can say what he wants, and I want him to say what he wants, but I can disagree."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"Blessed are the peacemakers! But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth."

— Pope Leo XIV , Other

"I have no disagreement with the fact the pope can say what he wants, and I want him to say what he wants, but I can disagree."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"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."

— Pope Leo XIV , Other

"As of today, I no longer consider myself a Catholic, citing institutionalized corruption and scandals that went, he said, all the way to Rome."

— Sean Hannity , Celebrity

"The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants."

— Pope Leo XIV , Other

"As it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate the president, which is not in my interest at all."

— Pope Leo XIV , Other

"I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"certain narrative that has not been accurate"

— Pope Leo , Activist

"The Pope can say what he wants, and I want him to say what he wants, but I can disagree."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth."

— Pope Leo XIV , Other

"Those who rob your land of its resources generally invest much of the profit in weapons, thus perpetuating an endless cycle of destabilisation and death."

— Pope Leo XIV , Other

"In the name of profit, continue to lay their hands on the African continent to exploit and plunder it."

— Pope Leo XIV , Other

"At the same time, there has been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects."

— Pope Leo XIV , Other

"Blessed are the peacemakers! But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain."

— Pope Leo XIV , Other

"‘Not in my interest at all’ to debate Trump"

— Pope Leo XIV , Other

"my recent remarks in Cameroon decrying a 'handful of tyrants' was not directed at US President Donald Trump"

— Pope Leo XIV , Other

"And yet as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate, again, the president, which is not in my interest at all."

— Pope Leo , Activist

"I was grateful to Pope Leo for saying this."

— JD Vance , Politician

"The Pope can say what he wants, and I want him to say what he wants, but I can disagree."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"I have no interest in clashing with Trump over Iran war criticism, blaming media 'commentary on commentary' for inflating tensions."

— Pope Leo XIV , Other

All Coverage

Pope says 'tyrants' speech was not aimed at Trump
BBC Newsvia rss 2 quotes 2 persons

The pontiff says his remarks have been misinterpreted after a spat with the US president.

100%
Pope Leo decries world ruled by ‘tyrants’ after Trump attacks
Al Jazeeravia ai 2 quotes 2 persons

Pope Leo XIV condemned global leaders who, he said, are 'ravaging the world' by spending billions on war, amid tensions with President Trump over the Iran conflict.

80%
The Washington Postvia ai

Pope Leo XIV stated he has no intention of debating President Trump over the Iran war but will continue preaching the Gospel message of peace.

80%
Pope Leo says he was not ‘trying to debate’ Trump over US attack on Iran
The Guardianvia ai 2 quotes 2 persons

Pope Leo XIV clarified that his remarks about the world being 'ravaged by a handful of tyrants' were not aimed at President Trump, emphasizing his focus on preaching peace.

80%
Pope Leo says remarks about world being 'ravaged by a handful of tyrants' were not aimed at Trump: report
Fox Newsvia ai 3 quotes 2 persons

Pope Leo XIV clarified that his comments about the world being 'ravaged by a handful of tyrants' were not directed at President Donald Trump, stating his speech was prepared two weeks prior to Trump's comments.

80%
Pope says 'tyrants' speech was not aimed at Trump
Capital Newsvia ai 2 quotes 2 persons

Pope Leo XIV downplayed his feud with U.S. President Donald Trump, stating that his comments about the world being 'ravaged by a handful of tyrants' were not aimed at Trump and were prepared two weeks prior to Trump's remarks.

80%
Sky Newsvia ai

Pope Leo has condemned a 'handful of tyrants' for ravaging the world, following a deepening public rift with Donald Trump over his Iran war.

80%
Pope Leo XIV slams 'tyrants' ransacking world on high-security visit to Cameroon
Euronewsvia ai 3 quotes 1 person

Pope Leo XIV criticised the 'tyrants' ransacking the world on Thursday, on a high-security visit to a 'bloodstained' region of Cameroon following a war of words with US President Donald Trump.

80%
Peace appeals in Africa were not aimed at Trump, pope says
USCCBvia ai 2 quotes 1 person

Pope Leo XIV clarified that his calls for peace during his Africa tour were not directed at President Trump, emphasizing the broader message of peace.

80%
Pope says 'tyrants' speech was not aimed at Trump
AOLvia ai 3 quotes 3 persons

Pope Leo XIV clarified that his recent remarks about 'tyrants' were not aimed at President Trump, stating that the speech was prepared two weeks prior to any presidential comments.

80%
Pope denies ‘tyrants’ speech aimed at Trump
RT Indiavia ai 1 quote 1 person

Pope Leo XIV rejected claims that his criticism of the war in Iran and calls for peace were directed at President Trump, stating his remarks were not meant to be confrontational and criticizing media for inflating the row.

80%
‘Not in my interest at all’ to debate Trump: Pope Leo says remark on ‘handful of tyrants’ not directed at US Prez
Hindustan Timesvia ai 2 quotes 1 person

Pope Leo XIV clarified that his remarks about the world being 'ravaged by a handful of tyrants' were not directed at President Trump, emphasizing his commitment to preaching peace.

80%