Pope Leo XIV speaks to journalists aboard his flight bound for Algiers Houari Boumdine International Airport on Monday, April 13, 2026, at the start of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (Alberto Pizzoli/Pool Photo via AP)2026-04-13T01:20:54Z WASHINGTON (AP) U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV pushed back Monday on President Donald Trumps broadside against him over the U.S.-Israel war in Iran, telling reporters that the Vaticans appeals for peace and reconciliation are rooted in the Gospel, and that he doesnt fear the Trump administration.To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is, Leo told AP aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria. And Im sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today.Historys first U.S.-born pope stressed that he was not making a direct attack against Trump or anyone else with his general appeal for peace and criticisms of the delusion of omnipotence that is fueling the Iran wars and other conflicts around the world. I will not enter into debate. The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone. The message of the Gospel is very clear: Blessed are the peacemakers, Leo said. I will not shy away from announcing the message of the Gospel and inviting all people to look for ways of building bridges of peace and reconciliation, and looking for ways to avoid war any time thats possible Speaking to other reporters, he added: I have no fear of the Trump administration.Trump delivered an extraordinary broadside against Leo on Sunday night, saying he didnt think the U.S.-born global leader of the Catholic Church is doing a very good job and that hes a very liberal person, while also suggesting the pontiff should stop catering to the Radical Left. Read More Flying back to Washington from Florida, Trump used a lengthy social media post to sharply criticize Leo, then kept it up after deplaning, in comments on the tarmac to reporters. Im not a fan of Pope Leo, he said. Trumps comments came after Leo suggested over the weekend that a delusion of omnipotence is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. While its not unusual for popes and presidents to be at cross purposes, its exceedingly rare for the pope to directly criticize a U.S. leader and Trumps stinging response is equally uncommon, if not more so.Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy, the president wrote in his post, adding, I dont want a Pope who thinks its OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He repeated that sentiment in comments to reporters, saying, We dont like a pope who says its OK to have a nuclear weapon.Later, Trump posted a picture suggesting he had saint-like powers akin to those of Jesus Christ. Wearing a biblical-style robe, Trump is seen laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers, while a soldier, a nurse, a praying woman and a bearded man in a baseball cap all look on admiringly. The sky above is filled with eagles, an American flag and vaporous images. All of that came after Leo presided over an evening prayer service in St. Peters Basilica on Saturday, the same day the United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan during a fragile ceasefire. The pope didnt mention the United States or Trump by name, but his tone and message appeared directed at Trump and U.S. officials, who have boasted of U.S. military superiority and justified the war in religious terms. Leo, who is on an 11-day trip to Africa starting Monday has previously said that God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them. Hes also referenced an Old Testament passage from Isaiah, saying that even though you make many prayers, I will not listen your hands are full of blood.Before the ceasefire, when Trump warned of mass strikes against Iranian power plants and other infrastructure and that an entire civilization will die tonight, Leo described such sentiments as truly unacceptable.In his social media post on Sunday night, however, Trump went far beyond the war in Iran in criticizing Leo. The president wrote, I dont want a Pope who thinks its terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States. That was a reference to the Trump administration having ousted Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro in January. I dont want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because Im doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, Trump added, referencing his 2024 election victory. He also suggested in the post that Leo only got his position because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasnt in the White House, Leo wouldnt be in the Vatican, Trump wrote, adding, Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. Its hurting him very badly and, more importantly, its hurting the Catholic Church! In his subsequent comments to reporters, Trump remained highly critical, saying of Leo, I dont think hes doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess and adding, Hes a very liberal person.Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement saying he was disheartened by Trumps comments. Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls, Coakley said.In the 2024 election, Trump won 55% of Catholic voters, according to AP VoteCast, an extensive survey of the electorate. But Trumps administration also has close ties to conservative evangelical Protestant leaders and has claimed heavenly endorsement for the war on Iran.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Americans to pray for victory in the name of Jesus Christ. And, when Trump was asked whether he thought God approved of the war, he said, I do, because God is good because God is good and God wants to see people taken care of.Winfield reported from aboard the papal plane. WILL WEISSERT Weissert covers the White House for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington. twitter mailto JOSH BOAK Boak covers the White House and economic policy for The Associated Press. He joined the AP in 2013. twitter mailto NICOLE WINFIELD Winfield has been on the Vatican beat since 2001, covering the papacies of St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and the Francis pontificate and traveling the world with them.