Vatican row intensifies as Pope Leo heads to Africa

As Pope Leo XIV sets out on a 10-day visit to Africa, divisions between the Vatican and the US administration under President Donald Trump have intensified.

It's a relationship that has historically fluctuated; however, a suggestion by the Pope over the weekend that a 'delusion of omnipotence’ was fueling the war on Iran resulted in the US President swiping back.

"I’m not a fan of Pope Leo," he declared.

In a social media post, he described the head of the Catholic Church as ‘...WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy’.

It’s almost a year since Mr Trump described the election of Robert Prevost as the first American pope as "a great honour" for the country.

However, in a recent post he suggested that Pope Leo secured the position "because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J.

Trump".

It was a theory that wasn’t ruled out by analysts at the time; however, the suggestion evaporated as Pope Leo took up the role, completing Pope Francis’s work last year, including the 2025 Jubilee year.

As 2025 came to a close, he continued to denounce wars worldwide, including those in Gaza and Ukraine, and continuously called for dialogue and prayers for peace.

By January, the pontiff had settled into his position as head of the Catholic Church and routines became apparent, including spending Tuesdays at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome.

In response, the media sends reporters and correspondents to the residence in an effort to doorstep (interview) the Pope in less formal surroundings.

Pope Leo’s accessibility and willingness to take questions have become normalised.

His fluency in multiple languages is an asset to the Vatican; however, it is often his English responses, in that notable American accent, that attract the most attention, including from the US President.

On Tuesday 7 April, when President Trump said Iran would be obliterated, Pope Leo described such a threat as "truly unacceptable".

He appealed to citizens of the countries involved – although many viewed it as an appeal to Americans in particular – to talk to congresspeople, political leaders and representatives to work for peace.

It’s reported that the US President’s latest criticism of Pope Leo has deeply disturbed many of them.

Undeterred, the Pope said he had ‘no fear’ of the Trump administration and that he planned to continue to speak out against war despite the criticism.

While he said he didn’t want to get into a debate with Donald Trump, he was nevertheless trenchant in his remarks en route to Africa.

"I don't think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing."
"I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems," he said.

Some fear the war of words between the two men could overshadow the Pope’s Africa trip, but arguably it’s good timing.

The first stop for the Pontiff is Algeria, which unlike Iran is not a Shia country, but it is a Muslim country.

It means he will likely be applauded for his vocal efforts to stop the war, which provides credibility from day one of his first trip to the continent as Pope.