Pope Leo has continued the war of words with Donald Trump by accusing him of having “abused” the Gospel.
The US president criticised the pontiff as a figure who was “WEAK on crime and terrible for foreign policy” earlier today.
Pope Leo pushed back on Mr Trump’s attacks, stating that he was “not afraid of the Trump administration, nor of telling the message of the Gospel”.
Speaking aboard a papal flight to Algiers on Monday morning, the pontiff said: “I don’t want to get into a debate with him. 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.”
Pope Leo added: “Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way.”