Pope Leo and President Trump Exchange Barbs Over Policies and Peace

An extraordinary rift has emerged between Pope Leo and U.S. President Donald Trump, marked by direct criticism and personal rebukes. Speaking from a plane before embarking on 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 reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for peace, dialogue, and multilateral solutions to global conflicts, emphasizing, “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, highlighted that while pontiffs have historically addressed the need for peace and civilian protection during conflicts like those in Afghanistan and Iraq, this situation is distinct because President Trump escalated the discourse to a personal level. “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,” Gamansing explained. Pope Leo had previously deemed President Trump’s remarks about destroying Iranian civilization “unacceptable,” focusing his critique on policy rather than personal attacks.

President Trump responded sharply 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 has not supported crime but has consistently promoted a message of peace rooted in Christianity, suggesting that some are misinterpreting or abusing this 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. The reaction from American Christian voters to the President's comments about Pope Leo has yet to be widely heard.

Canadian Liberals on Verge of Majority Government Amidst Shifting Alliances

Three federal by-elections are set to take place in Canada, with polls opening in Toronto and Quebec, potentially propelling the Liberal Party to a majority government. The path to this potential majority has been unconventional, marked by a series of parliamentary shifts and floor-crossings. As of now, the Liberals require just one victory in these by-elections to secure the 172 seats needed for a majority in the House of Commons.

The Liberal seat count has fluctuated significantly since the last general election, where they initially won 169 seats. The party's numbers rose to 171 with the addition of Conservative MP Chris Dantremont and later Michael Ma. However, the count dropped back to 169 following the resignations of Cabinet Ministers Chrystia Freeland and Bill Blair. A Supreme Court decision later annulled a Liberal win in Terrebonne due to errors on mail-in ballot envelopes, reducing their total to 168. Subsequently, a series of floor-crossings, including Conservative MP Matt Jenneru, NDP MP Laurie Idlaut, and most recently, four-term Conservative MP Marilyn Gladue, have brought the Liberal count to 171, placing them on the brink of a majority.

Political strategist Jamie Watt explained that securing a majority government would grant the Liberals greater control over parliamentary committees, enabling them to pass legislation more efficiently. “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 stated. He also suggested that Canadians might welcome the stability of a majority government, despite potential reductions in checks and balances. The defection of four MPs from the Conservative Party to the Liberals has raised questions about Pierre Poilievre's leadership.

Watt theorized that the floor-crossers may have been motivated by the prospect of being in government, having initially anticipated a Conservative victory. He cautioned that further defections could create challenges for both Pierre Poilievre and Prime Minister Mark Carney. The voting record of recent floor-crosser Marilyn Gladue, which differs from many Liberal positions on social issues, could also complicate internal party dynamics, presenting a challenge for the Liberal Party's broad tent approach.

Other National and International News

Canada Reads, the annual literary competition focused on the theme “One Book to Build Bridges,” begins today on CBC Radio and CBC Jam. In the literary world, novelist Mia Ballard faces accusations of using artificial intelligence to write her novel *Shy Girl*, leading to its removal from shelves and sparking debate about AI's ethical implications in publishing.

Pop star Britney Spears has voluntarily entered a rehabilitation facility following an arrest last month on suspicion of driving under the influence. In sports, the Toronto Raptors have secured their fifth seed in the NBA playoffs, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 136-101. They are set to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in a best-of-seven series beginning Saturday.

CBC News is increasing its coverage of local news across Canada in response to concerns about the decline of local journalism and the rise of misinformation. Jamie Watt emphasized the importance of choosing “news, not noise,” highlighting CBC's commitment to reporting from local communities.