By Sabiu Abdullahi
Pope Leo has warned that global affairs are being dominated by a small group of powerful leaders, as tensions continue between him and former United States President Donald Trump.
The pontiff made the remarks during a visit to Cameroon, where he criticised world leaders for using religion to advance their own interests. He said such actions often serve “military, economic and political gain.”
He said: “The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is 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.”
Pope Leo, who is 70 and the first American to hold the position, has spoken frequently about the ongoing conflict in Iran. His comments have drawn criticism from Trump and some figures within the former administration.
Earlier in the week, Trump criticised the Pope over his position on the Middle East. He said the pontiff was “WEAK on crime and terrible for foreign policy”.
“Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a nuclear bomb is absolutely unacceptable,” he said on Wednesday.
Trump also shared an AI-generated image that portrayed him in a religious light. The post sparked backlash, including from some Catholic supporters in the United States.
In what appeared to be a response, Pope Leo delivered further remarks on Thursday, condemning the misuse of religion by political leaders.
“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.
“It is a world turned upside down, an exploitation of God’s creation that must be denounced and rejected by every honest conscience.”
The Pope spoke in Bamenda, a major city in Cameroon’s English-speaking region. The area has experienced prolonged violence between government forces and separatist groups. Reports indicate that thousands of people have lost their lives in the conflict.
Trump had first criticised the Pope before his African visit and repeated his comments days later. Some senior figures aligned with the former president also backed his stance.
US Vice-President JD Vance questioned the Pope’s position during an event in Georgia, where he faced interruptions from the audience.
“How can you say that God was never on the side of those who wield the sword?” Mr Vance asked. “Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated France from the Nazis? Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated Holocaust camps?”
Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, also reacted to the situation. He said the Pope should “expect some political response” over his comments on the Middle East crisis.
Despite the criticism, Pope Leo has indicated that he will continue to speak on the conflict in Iran, though he has avoided direct replies to Trump in recent days.
