Pope Leo XIV, during his visit to Cameroon, criticized those who, according to him, "manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain."
Pope Leo XIV, during his visit to Cameroon, sharply condemned a "handful of tyrants" who, according to him, spend billions to "ravage" the world through exploitation and wars, writes DW. "Blessed are the peacemakers," the pontiff stated while speaking at St. Joseph's Cathedral in the city of Bamenda on Thursday, April 16, "but woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, plunging the sacred into darkness and abomination. This is a world turned upside down, the exploitation of God's creation, which every honest and conscientious person must condemn and reject."
Conflict between the Pope and the US Administration
During a prayer vigil for peace around the world on April 11, Leo XIV - the first American on the Holy See - called on leaders of warring countries to stop and sit at the negotiating table, "not at a table where rearmament is planned and decisions about deadly actions are made." In response to his appeal, US President Donald Trump called the pontiff "terrible" on foreign policy, stating on the Truth Social platform: "I don’t need a pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I am doing exactly what I was elected to do."
The head of the Roman Catholic Church, in turn, clarified that the Vatican's calls for peace and reconciliation are based on the Gospel and that he is not afraid of the current US administration. The pontiff emphasized that his general call for peace and criticism of the "illusion of omnipotence" is not a direct strike against Trump or anyone else.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni supported Leo XIV, stating: "Honestly, I wouldn’t feel very comfortable in a society where religious leaders do what political leaders tell them to do." Following this, Trump harshly criticized Meloni. Previously, he had repeatedly spoken warmly of the Italian Prime Minister.
Leo XIV's Trip to African Countries
On April 13, the Pope embarked on an 11-day tour of African countries. The first stop on the pontiff's journey was Algeria - a country where there are only about 9,000 Catholics among 48 million residents. Here, the pope visited the ruins of the ancient city of Hippo, where Blessed Augustine preached - one of the founders of the Catholic Church.
After Algeria and Cameroon, Leo XIV plans to visit Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
