Pope

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.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Pope Leo XIV has played down claims that Christians alone are the targets of mass killings in Nigeria, stressing that the country’s insecurity threatens people of every faith.

The Catholic leader made the clarification during an interaction with journalists as he departed his Castel Gandolfo residence in The Vatican.

A reporter sought his view on the safety of Nigerian Christians, a topic that has drawn considerable attention in Western political debates.

The pontiff said Nigeria’s violence cannot be separated from terrorism, economic pressures, and fierce disputes over land.

“I think in Nigeria, in certain areas, there is certainly a danger for Christians, but for all people. Christians and Muslims have been slaughtered,” he stated in response to EWTN News.

“There’s a question of terrorism. There’s a question that has to do a lot with economics, if you will, and control of the lands that they have. Unfortunately, many Christians have died, and I think it’s very, it’s important to seek a way for the government, with all peoples, to promote authentic religious freedom.”

His remarks come after former U.S. President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious persecution.

Abuja strongly rejected the designation, arguing that the crisis is not an assault on one religion but a complex conflict involving multiple groups.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, also echoed a similar view last month. At the launch of the 2025 Religious Freedom Report by Aid to the Church in Need, he said the violence in Nigeria fits more into a “social conflict,” often between herders and farmers, rather than a religious confrontation.

In an effort to address the growing narrative in Washington, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu led a federal delegation to the United States on Wednesday.

The team met with Congressman Riley Moore, whom Trump appointed to review Nigeria’s situation. Moore later said he and the delegation held a “frank, honest, and productive discussion.”