The Pope has denied his comments that the world is ‘being ravaged by tyrants’ were a criticism of Donald Trump amid an ongoing feud between the two leaders.    

Pope Leo XIV made the unusually forceful remarks during a trip to Cameroon on Thursday after the US President launched a tirade against him over his repeated criticism of the war in Iran.

Leo, the first American pope, also decried leaders who use religious language to justify wars and urged a ‘decisive change of course’.  

However, he said today he regrets his ‘tyrant’ remarks were interpreted as a response to criticism from Trump, insisting he has no interest in debating the US leader.

The Pontiff, 70, claimed they had been written well before Trump’s ‘comment on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting’.

‘And yet it was perceived as if I were trying to start a new debate with the president, which doesn’t interest me at all,’ Leo said. 

‘Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary trying to interpret what has been said,’ he said.

The Pope has denied his comments that the world is ‘being ravaged by tyrants’ were a criticism of Donald Trump amid an ongoing feud between the two leaders

US President Donald Trump speaks after signing an executive order in the Oval Office on Saturday 

Pope Leo XIV attends a welcome ceremony upon his arrival in Angola 

Leo, who arrived in Angola today, is currently on the third leg of his four-nation trip through Africa.

In his homily, delivered in French, Leo said that the respect for human dignity was a cornerstone of every society.

‘For this reason, every community has the obligation to create and sustain structures of solidarity and mutual aid in which, when faced with crises – be they social, political, medical or economic – everyone can give and receive assistance according to their own capacity and needs,’ he said.

Trump had said on April 12 he was ‘not a big fan of Pope Leo’, and accused him of ‘toying with a country (Iran) that wants a nuclear weapon’.

He later doubled down on his comments to reporters with a post on Truth Social, saying: ‘I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.’

‘Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,’ the US leader said.

Trump also said that Leo was only made Pope ‘because he was an American’, and ‘If I wasn’t in the White House , Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.’

He added: ‘I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess.

‘We don’t like a Pope who says it’s ok to have a nuclear weapon. We don’t want a Pope that says crime is ok. I am not a fan of Pope Leo.’

Trump then sparked further controversy by posting an AI-generated image seemingly depicting himself as Jesus Christ. 

He later deleted the post, claiming he had intended it to depict him as a doctor. 

Pope Leo XIV speaks to journalists aboard a flight on his way to Luanda, Angola

Donald Trump faced backlash from world leaders and Catholics across the globe after he posted a photograph depicting himself as Jesus

Pope Leo XIV disembarks the papal plane upon his arrival at Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport to begin his visit to Angola 

Although Trump routinely attacks world leaders, his spat with the Pope has alienated some of his most ardent supporters. 

Much of the President’s support base are conservative Catholics. And Trump, who rarely attends church, has upset many by insulting their spiritual leader.

Trump loyalist Shane Schaetzel said he has cancelled his subscription to Truth Social and sold his stocks in Trump’s businesses.

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The author from Missouri, who voted for Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024, told The Times: ‘I’ve been very patient and very balanced in the feud erupting between him and the Pope. This, however, is too much. Donald Trump just lost my support.’

Former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, previously a strong ally of President Trump, wrote: ‘On Orthodox Easter, President Trump attacked the Pope because the Pope is rightly against Trump’s war in Iran and then he posted this picture of himself as if he is replacing Jesus.

‘This comes after last week’s post of his evil tirade on Easter and then threatening to kill an entire civilisation. I completely denounce this and I’m praying against it!!!’

‘It’s more than blasphemy,’ she added on a second account. ‘It’s an Antichrist spirit.’

Other members of the MAGA base expressed criticism following the President’s controversial post.

‘Oh hell no,’ wrote hard-Right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos.

‘We tolerated this kind of meme against our better judgment because he promised to save America and only when it was clear he didn’t actually think he was the Messiah.’

Right-wing social media personality Mike Cernovich also criticised the post, writing on X: ‘Trump’s first post was fine. The Pope has a long documented political record. The follow-up posts? Would not be tolerated for any other religion.’ 

But despite the widespread criticism, some of Trump’s most loyal allies have leapt to his defence.

Pope Leo XIV waves after arriving in Luanda, Angola, on Saturday 

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson ​said the Pope should have expected backlash for wading into ‘political waters’.

He ⁠said he was ‘taken a little bit aback’ by the Pope’s comments about ‘those who engage in war, that Jesus doesn’t hear their prayers or something’.

‘It is a very well-settled matter of Christian theology, there’s something called the “just war” doctrine,’ he added.

Texas Congressman Troy Nehls joined the criticism of the Pope, telling him to ‘stay out of politics’ on Wednesday.

He said: ‘The Pope needs to keep his business to leading his flock, leading the church, and stay out of the political arena.

‘Go lead your church. Stay out of politics. We didn’t elect the Pope to be the president. Donald Trump is our president.’