EditPope Leo, increasingly outspoken after Trump and Vance attacks, decries ‘handful of tyrants’
His language in Cameroon left little doubt that the criticism from Washington has sharpened his voice on issues of war, exploitation, and the misuse of faith
Pope Leo XIV used a high-profile peace Mass in conflict-torn Cameroon on Thursday to deliver some of his sharpest criticisms yet of world leaders who invoke religion to justify war and devastation, appearing emboldened after recent personal attacks from U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance over his opposition to the Iran conflict.
The first U.S.-born pontiff, who kept a relatively low profile for much of his first year in office, has emerged as a vocal critic of the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began in late February. His rhetoric has intensified noticeably since Trump began publicly assailing him on social media earlier this week, with Vance – a Catholic convert – joining the fray by suggesting the Pope should “be careful” when discussing theology and matters of war.
Trump on Sunday called Pope Leo “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” later posting an image that appeared to depict himself in a Christ-like pose, drawing widespread backlash even from some conservatives. Vance defended the administration’s actions and advised the Pope to stick to spiritual affairs rather than opining on U.S. policy or just war questions. Far from retreating, Pope Leo has refused to soften his stance, telling reporters earlier this week he would continue speaking out on the Iran war.
In Bamenda, the largest city in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions, Pope Leo celebrated a Mass for peace and justice before an estimated 20,000 people at the local airport. He lambasted what he described as “a handful of tyrants” ravaging the world:
“The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild. They turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found.”
He went further, condemning those who “manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain,” dragging the sacred “into darkness and filth.” These remarks, delivered amid his four-country African tour, were widely interpreted as a pointed escalation in response to the Trump-Vance criticisms and to leaders – including U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth – who have used Christian language to defend military action against Iran.
In his Cameroon remarks, Pope Leo spoke of the world being ravaged by “a handful of tyrants, but he did not name Trump, Vance, or Putin.
The Pope also urged Cameroon’s long-ruling President Paul Biya, 93, to fight corruption and resist the “whims of the rich and powerful,” while calling for unity in a country scarred by a nearly decade-long separatist conflict in its anglophone regions. That violence has killed more than 6,500 people and displaced over 500,000, according to the International Crisis Group. Separatist groups declared a three-day ceasefire to facilitate the papal visit.
Pope Leo listened to harrowing testimonies, including from a nun kidnapped for ransom and an imam who survived an attack on a mosque. He expressed hope that Christian and Muslim leaders could help mediate an end to the fighting, stressing that the crisis must not be allowed to become a religious war.
Broader context and reactions
The Pope’s heightened outspokenness comes as diplomatic efforts swirl around the Middle East, including Trump’s announcement of a short-term Israel-Lebanon ceasefire and indirect U.S.-Iran talks. While some view the papal interventions as a moral counterweight to great-power politics, the direct clash with the White House has caused dismay among Catholics in Africa – home to more than one-fifth of the world’s Catholics – and drawn support for the Pope from other Christian leaders.
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The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, voiced solidarity with Pope Leo’s “courageous call for a kingdom of peace.”
Despite the personal attacks from Trump and Vance, Pope Leo has so far avoided naming the U.S. leaders directly in his public remarks. Yet his language in Cameroon left little doubt that the criticism from Washington has not silenced him – if anything, it appears to have sharpened his voice on issues of war, exploitation, and the misuse of faith.
Talks and mediation efforts in both Cameroon and the wider Middle East are expected to continue, but the papal visit has at least temporarily spotlighted the human cost of protracted conflicts and the role religious figures can play when political solutions stall.
With Reuters, with additional content by EUalive.
Caption: Pope Leo XIV (C) reacts as he leaves after his visit to the Ngul Zamba (Power of God) orphanage in Yaounde, Cameroon, 15 April 2026. The pontiff is on the second leg of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. EPA/ALBERTO PIZZOLI / POOL
Updated: April 17, 2026 - 06:48
