Pope Leo Clarifies Remarks, Denies Intent to Debate President Trump Pope Leo, while traveling to Angola, addressed what he termed an inaccurate narrative surrounding his recent speeches, asserting his remarks were not an attempt to debate President Donald Trump. The Pope reiterated his commitment to proclaiming the Gospel's message of peace and clarified that his prepared statements preceded public commentary from the President. Speaking from aboard the papal plane en route to Angola, Pope Leo on Saturday sought to dispel what he described as an inaccurate narrative surrounding his recent statements. He emphasized that his pronouncements, intended to convey the Gospel's message of peace, were not aimed at engaging in a debate with President Donald Trump. The Pontiff clarified that he wished to address a specific interpretation that had emerged concerning his speeches during his African pilgrimage. This narrative had apparently been fueled by President Trump's repeated accusations that the first American Pope was too lenient on crime and had falsely alleged that Leo desired Iran to possess nuclear weapons. Earlier in the week, during an address in Cameroon, Pope Leo had delivered a strong message, stating, 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. He assured reporters that this particular speech had been prepared two weeks in advance, long before President Trump had publicly commented on him or the peace initiatives he was advocating. The Pope reiterated that it was not his intention to be perceived as debating the President, as such a confrontation was entirely against his interests. His mission, he affirmed, was to continue on his journey and proclaim the Gospel message. Pope Leo has consistently voiced his opposition to military conflict, particularly concerning Iran. While he refrained from naming President Trump directly in his sermons and public addresses, he has repeatedly urged global leaders to cease hostilities. When questioned on Monday about President Trump's remarks, Pope Leo expressed that he harbored no apprehension towards the Trump administration and remained resolute in speaking out clearly about the Gospel's teachings. The current climate has seen President Trump and Vice President JD Vance facing significant criticism from American Catholic leaders and numerous Catholic organizations for their rhetoric and their public disagreements with the Pope over the past fortnight. In a particularly controversial move, President Trump posted an AI-generated image on Monday that depicted him in a Christ-like posture, though he later removed it, subsequently reposting another image showing Jesus embracing him. Trump has since denied any connection between the initially deleted image and religious iconography, claiming it was intended to portray him as a physician. He stated on Thursday that while he supports the Pope’s preaching of the Gospel, he also believes it is imperative to prevent a certain country, which he characterized as very mean-spirited, from acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump acknowledged that the Pope might hold a different view but asserted his own right to express such a position