Pope Leo sought to downplay his spat with US President Donald Trump on Saturday, saying reporting on the comments he has made so far during his visit to Africa has been “inaccurate in all its aspects”.
Speaking to reporters in English on his plane to Angola for the third phase of his 10-day visit to Africa, the first US pope said the remarks he made two days ago in Cameroon, complaining that the world is being “destroyed by a few tyrants” were not aimed at Trump.
The speech, said Leo, “was prepared two weeks ago, long before the president gave my opinion and about the message of peace that I am announcing”.
Vice President JD Vance, who criticized the pope’s remarks last week, welcomed his latest comments.
“I thank Pope Leo for saying this,” Vance posted on social media. “While the media’s narrative always raises conflicts – and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen – the truth is often more complicated.”
Last Sunday, as Leo was preparing to begin his visit, Trump called him “WEAK on Crime, and bad on Foreign Policy” in a social media post. Trump also published a fake picture of himself as a Jesus-like figure, drawing criticism even from some religious conservatives who normally support him.
