Trump-Vatican tensions intensify as Pope Leo travels to Africa

As Pope Leo XIV begins a 10-day tour of Africa, a growing rift between the Vatican and President Donald Trump’s administration has come sharply into focus.

Ties between the Holy See and Washington have long shifted with the political winds. But tensions escalated after the Pope suggested over the weekend that a “delusion of omnipotence” was helping drive the war on Iran, prompting a swift rebuke from the US President.

“I’m not a fan of Pope Leo,” Trump said.

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

Yet in an earlier post, Trump had floated the idea that Pope Leo won the papacy “because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump”.

At the time, some analysts did not dismiss that theory outright. But that line of thinking faded as Pope Leo settled into the role, carrying forward Pope Francis’s agenda last year, including the 2025 Jubilee year.

As 2025 drew to an end, he kept condemning conflicts across the globe, from Gaza to Ukraine, while repeatedly urging dialogue and prayers for peace.

By January, the new pontiff appeared fully established at the helm of the Catholic Church, with his routines becoming clearer — among them regular Tuesdays at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome.

That, in turn, has prompted news organisations to dispatch reporters and correspondents there in hopes of doorstepping (interviewing) the Pope in a more relaxed setting.

Pope Leo’s openness and readiness to answer questions are now widely seen as part of the job’s new rhythm.

His command of several languages has proved an advantage for the Vatican. Still, it is often his answers in English — delivered in a distinctly American accent — that generate the most notice, including from the US President.

On Tuesday 7 April, after Trump said Iran would be obliterated, Pope Leo called such a threat “truly unacceptable”.

He urged people in the countries involved — though many took it as a message aimed especially at Americans — to contact congresspeople, political leaders and representatives in support of peace.

The message from the Chicago-born Pope appeared to be landing ever closer to home, where the United States has more than 50 million Catholics.

Reports suggest Trump’s latest attack on Pope Leo has deeply unsettled many within that community.

The Pope, however, signaled he would not be intimidated, saying he had “no fear” of the Trump administration and intended to keep speaking out against war despite the criticism.

Although he said he did not want to enter into a debate with Donald Trump, he still delivered pointed remarks while travelling 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 worry the escalating clash between the two men could overshadow the Pope’s trip to Africa, but there is also a case that the timing works in his favor.

The Pontiff’s first stop is Algeria, which, unlike Iran, is not a Shia country, though it is a Muslim country.

That means he is likely to be welcomed for his outspoken efforts to halt the war — giving him credibility from the opening day of his first visit to the continent as Pope.