Pope Leo is attempting to walk back the media frenzy surrounding his recent remarks on global conflict, insisting that his speech criticizing 'tyrants' for massive war spending was drafted weeks before his public disagreement with President Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters while traveling to Angola, the Pope dismissed the media-driven narrative that he was looking to pick a fight with the American leader, calling the interpretation inaccurate.
The controversy erupted after the Pope criticized leaders for spending billions on destruction while neglecting restoration, remarks that were immediately weaponized by critics of the Trump administration.
President Trump had previously pushed back against the Pope’s criticisms of US foreign policy, calling the Pontiff 'weak on crime' and 'terrible for foreign policy' following the Pope's comments on Iran.
Vice-President JD Vance, who has previously advised the Vatican to stick to moral matters, welcomed the Pope’s clarification, noting that the media often gins up conflict where it does not exist.
While the Pope continues his tour of Africa—a region critical to the future of the Catholic Church—this clarification serves as a reminder that the mainstream media is far more interested in manufacturing political theater than reporting on the actual substance of international discourse.
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