Pope Leo XIV warned that a minor group of tyrants is devastating the world, directly addressing the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran. The pontiff made the remarks during a visit to Cameroon on April 16, 2026, as part of a four-nation tour across Africa.
His comments followed a series of criticisms from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance regarding the pope’s stance on the war, which began on February 28, 2026, with U.S.-led strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure. Trump stated the military action was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Since the conflict began, more than 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, according to figures from the country’s forensic chief and the U.S.-based human rights organization HRANA.
Pope Leo emphasized that peace efforts must continue despite the violence, saying he would keep speaking out against war and advocating for dialogue and multilateral solutions to global problems. He did not name Trump or any specific leader in his remarks.
The exchange marks an unusual public disagreement between the U.S. President and the head of the Catholic Church, drawing attention from international religious leaders and observers.
