Pope Leo Stresses Unity Message During Africa Tour Amid US Backlash

2 min readApr 16, 2026 02:51 PM IST

Pope Leo XIV said that his visit to Africa highlighted the message of unity and peace “the world needs to hear” as he faced criticism from the US leaders over his stance on the Iran war.

Leo, while speaking aboard the papal plane from Algeria to Cameroon, highlighted his visits to the Great Mosque of Algiers and Saint Augustine’s birthplace.

“We have different beliefs, we have different ways of worshipping, we have different ways of living, we can live together in peace,” the pontiff said regarding his visit to the mosque.

“I think that to promote that kind of image is something which the world needs to hear today,” he added.

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Pope Leo says he ‘doesn’t fear’ Trump

The unusual trade of barbs between Trump and the pontiff began after Leo suggested that a “delusion of omnipotence” is fuelling the US-Israel war in Iran and demanded political leaders stop and negotiate peace.

The pope said this month’s ⁠threat ‌from Trump to destroy Iranian civilisation was “unacceptable.” He ‌has also called for “deep reflection” about the way migrants were being treated in the US under the Trump administration.

Following this, Trump launched a scathing attack on Pope, calling him “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy”.

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He took to his Truth Social platform and said, “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. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!”

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