By Maribel Velazquez
He Pope Leo XIV He addressed the controversy generated around his recent statements during his tour of Africa and assured that several media outlets misinterpreted his words as a direct attack on the president donald trump.
According to information published by The Fresh York Instances, the pontiff clarified that He has no intention of entering into a confrontation with the presidentdespite the fact that in recent days a narrative had been established that suggested the opposite.
“Much of what has been written has been more of a comment on commentstrying to interpret what has been said,” the Pope explained to journalists who were traveling with him on the papal plane, during the journey between Cameroon and Angola.
The controversy arose from a speech given in Bamenda, Cameroon, where the leader of the Catholic Church issued a strong warning: “Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political benefit!” These words were interpreted by various media as an indirect criticism of the Trump administration, especially in the context of recent tensions.
However, the Pope was emphatic when pointing out that that message had been prepared in advance. “That speech was written two weeks ago, long before any comments from the president,” he stressed, thus distancing himself from political interpretations.
days before, Trump had publicly criticized the pontiff in his social network Truth Social, calling him “weak on crime” and “frightful on foreign policy.” Despite this, the Pope chose to tone down and avoid verbal escalation.
“It was interpreted as if he were trying to debate with the president, which does not suit me at all,” he stated.
During his 11-day tour of countries such as Cameroon, Angola, Algeria and Equatorial Guinea, The Pope has focused his message on social issuesespecially in economic inequality and peace. According to the Fresh York Instances report, his intention has been “celebrate, encourage and accompany” to African Catholic communities, distancing itself from any international political agenda.
For now, the Pope has made it clear that he is not seeking confrontation, but rather to prevent his pastoral message from being used in political debates.
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