“I would simply say, once again, what I said in the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message on Sunday: asking all people of goodwill to search, always, for peace and not violence; to reject war, especially a war which many people have said is an unjust war, which is continuing to escalate and which is not resolving anything,” the American-born pope said.

He further reminded Trump that striking civilian infrastructure is against international law.

“Let’s remember especially the innocent children, the elderly, the sick, so many people who have already become or will become victims of this continued warfare.”

Earlier today, April 13, Trump took to Truth Social to lambast Pope Leo, writing: “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy. He talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart.

“I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA. He gets it, and Leo doesn’t! I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country.”

Trump went on to speculate the Pope Leo owes his position to Trump becoming president, writing: “He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”

Responding to Trump’s tirade, Pope Leo told Reuters that it was not his intention to become embroiled in a debate with the president.

“I don’t want to get into a debate with ⁠him,” Leo told the outlet. “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 added.

“Too many people are suffering in the world today,” said Leo. “Too many innocent ‌people ⁠are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way.

“The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the Peacemakers. I do ​not look at ​my role as ⁠being political, a politician.”

What do you make of the situation? Let us know in the comments.