The Vatican leader, Pope Leo XIV, has downplayed speculation linking his “tyrants” remarks to U.S. President, Donald Trump, calling the reaction an over-interpretation.
Speaking to journalists while travelling from Cameroon to Angola, he said the comments had been misread and taken out of context, insisting there was no intention to enter into a political exchange with the U.S. president.
He explained that the speech in which he condemned “tyrants” was prepared well in advance of any recent comments made about him or his global message of peace.
“That speech had been written long before the President’s comment on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting.
“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”, he said.
Leo added that much of the reaction that followed had been driven by “commentary on commentary”, with interpretations being layered on top of earlier interpretations rather than focusing on the original message.
The remarks in question were made during a high-security visit to Bamenda in northwestern Cameroon, an area at the centre of a long-running separatist conflict that has left thousands dead over nearly a decade. During the visit, he condemned “tyrants” and widespread violence across the world.
The comments were later widely interpreted, particularly in U.S. media, as a veiled reference to President Donald Trump, sparking international debate over their intended meaning.
