Pope Leo and President Trump Clash

Pope Leo publicly criticized policies enacted by U.S. President Donald Trump, leading to a direct rebuke from the President. Speaking on a plane before beginning a 10-day African tour, Pope Leo stated, “I do not look at my role as being a political politician. I don't want to get into a debate with him. I don't think that the message of the gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing.” He affirmed his commitment to speaking out against war, promoting peace, dialogue, and multilateral relationships to find just solutions to global problems, noting, “Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there's a better way to do this.”

Crystal Gamansing, reporting for CBC News, explained that while popes have previously spoken about the need for peace and the protection of civilians during conflicts like the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the current situation is distinct because President Trump made the issue personal. Gamansing stated, “The specific difference in this case was the fact that U.S. President Donald Trump did make it personal when he specifically said that he isn't a fan of Pope Leo because of the comments that Pope Leo made about policies saying that civilians need to be protected.” Pope Leo had previously called President Trump’s comments about destroying Iranian civilization “unacceptable,” focusing his criticism on policy rather than personal attacks.

President Trump responded to Pope Leo’s criticism, stating, “We don’t like a pope that’s going to say that it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon. We don’t want a pope that says crime is OK in our cities. I don't like it. I'm not a big fan of Pope Leo. He's a very liberal person, and he's a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime.” The broadcast clarified that Pope Leo had not expressed support for crime, but consistently emphasized the message of peace rooted in Christianity, and that some were abusing that message. It was noted that there are 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, and Pew Research data from 2025 indicated that 55% of Christian voters supported Donald Trump in 2024.

Canadian Federal By-Elections

Three federal by-elections are scheduled to take place in Canada, with polls opening in Toronto and Quebec. Rosemary Barton, CBC News’ chief political correspondent, reported that the Liberals need to win just one of these elections to secure a majority government in the House of Commons. The path to a majority, however, has been unconventional.

Barton detailed the shifting political landscape, beginning with the Liberals winning 169 seats in a previous election, three short of the 172 needed for a majority. The addition of Conservative MP Chris Dantremont, followed by Michael Ma, brought the Liberal count to 171. Subsequent resignations of Cabinet Ministers Chrystia Freeland and Bill Blair reduced the count back to 169. A Supreme Court decision annulled a Liberal win in Terrebonne due to errors on mail-in ballots, bringing the total to 168. Floor-crossings by Conservative MP Matt Jenneru and NDP MP Laurie Idlaut, and later by four-term Conservative MP Marilyn Gladue, brought the Liberal count to 171. Gladue stated, “He’s invited me to bring my experience, my talents and my views into the large Liberal tent.”

According to political strategist Jamie Watt, a Liberal majority would grant the party control of parliamentary committees, allowing them to pass legislation more efficiently. Watt stated, “He’s going to not have to worry about that anymore…He’ll be able to appoint Liberals as a majority in all of those committees. And that’ll mean he’ll be able to get his legislation through much, much faster.” Watt also suggested that Canadians might appreciate the stability of a majority government, despite potentially losing some checks and balances. He noted that four MPs have crossed the floor from the Conservative Party to the Liberals, raising questions about Pierre Poilievre’s leadership.

Watt further explained that the floor-crossers may have been motivated by the prospect of being in government, after initially believing the Conservatives would win. He also cautioned that further crossings could create problems for both Mr. Poilievre and Mr. Carney. Watt noted Marilyn Gladue’s voting record differs from many Liberal positions on social issues, potentially complicating the party’s internal dynamics.

Other News

Canada Reads, the annual literary competition, begins today, with this year’s theme being “One Book to Build Bridges.” The competition starts just after 10 a.m. Eastern on CBC Radio and CBC Jam. The literary world is also grappling with the ethical implications of artificial intelligence after novelist Mia Ballard was accused of using AI to write her novel, *Shy Girl*, leading to its removal from shelves.

Pop star Britney Spears has voluntarily checked herself into a rehab facility following an arrest last month on suspicion of driving under the influence. The Toronto Raptors have secured their spot in the NBA playoffs, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 136-101 and securing the fifth seed, avoiding the play-in tournament. They will face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday to open a best-of-seven series.

CBC News is increasing its coverage of local news across Canada, citing concerns about the decline of local journalism and the rise of misinformation. Jamie Watt emphasized the importance of choosing “news, not noise.”