Pope Leo XIV dismisses rumors around a debate with Trump

Pope Leo XIV stated on Saturday that he deeply regrets how his recent public remarks were misconstrued as a direct response to US President Donald Trump, firmly asserting that he has absolutely no desire to engage in a political debate with the American leader.

Misinterpreted speech in Cameroon

Speaking to journalists while en route to Angola, the pontiff specifically referenced an address he delivered during his recent visit to Cameroon -the second stop on his current tour of Africa-.

In that speech, the Pope condemned "tyrants" who are ransacking the world, a statement that many quickly framed as a veiled critique of the US president.

A manufactured timeline

The Pope clarified that the speech in question had been drafted well in advance of US President Trump's recent public declaration that he was "not a big fan" of the American pontiff.

Despite the timeline of the speech's creation, the pontiff noted how quickly the narrative took on a life of its own. "And yet it was perceived as if I were trying to start a new debate with the president, which doesn't interest me at all." Pope Leo told reporters, firmly shutting down the speculation.