Pope Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called for a ceasefire and renewed appeals for peace in Ukraine, Lebanon and Sudan, urging the international community to maintain attention on ongoing conflicts.
According to multiple international media including Al Jazeera, the pontiff said, “May the international community’s attention to the tragedy of this war not waver,” expressing solidarity with the people of Lebanon and noting that he felt “closer than ever” to the country amid ongoing tensions.
Muslim News gathered that Israel, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, carried out more than 100 coordinated air strikes across Lebanon within 10 minutes last week, targeting multiple areas including Beirut, the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon.
The strikes came shortly after a US–Iran ceasefire announcement, with Israeli authorities insisting that Lebanon was not included in the agreement and that operations against Hezbollah would continue.
Pope over the weekend therefore called for urgent efforts to reach peaceful solutions in conflict zones including Lebanon and stressed that the principle of humanity entails a moral obligation to protect civilians from the effects of war as reflected in international law.
He also renewed his appeal for an end to the war in Sudan, marking the third anniversary of the conflict and urging warring parties to silence their weapons and begin dialogue without preconditions.
Trump slams Pope Leo XIV, says “If I was not in the White House, he would not be in the Vatican”
The remarks drew a sharp response from US President Donald Trump, who launched a strong attack on the Pope, describing him as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.”
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump criticised the pontiff’s stance on global issues and questioned his emergence as head of the Catholic Church, saying, “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
He added that he did not want a Pope who supports what he described as leniency on issues such as Iran’s nuclear ambitions and urged the pontiff to focus on religious leadership rather than politics.
Speaking to reporters later, Trump said he did not believe the Pope was doing a good job, describing him as “a very liberal person” and reiterating his disagreement with the pontiff’s positions.
Trump sparks backlash with AI image portraying himself as “Jesus of our time”
Shortly after making the controversial remarks about the Vatican, Trump shared an AI generated image on social media depicting himself in a form associated with Jesus Christ.
In the image, he appeared robed and surrounded by radiant light while performing what resembled a healing act, with figures around him.
The image sparked widespread criticism across social and religious communities, with many including Christians describing it as inappropriate and disrespectful.
Pope pushes back, says he will continue to speak against war
In response, Pope Leo XIV said he was not afraid of the Trump administration and would continue to speak out. According to reports cited by ANSA and referenced by Al Jazeera, the pontiff made the remarks while speaking to reporters during a papal flight from Rome to Algiers.
“I am not afraid of the Trump administration,” he said, adding that he would continue to speak out against war and conflict. The Pope also noted that he had no intention of engaging in a debate with Trump.
The exchange highlights growing tensions between political and religious voices over global conflicts, particularly as calls for peace continue amid ongoing crises in different parts of the world.
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