Pope Leo speaks of ‘handful of tyrants’ spending billions on conflict : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8640x5760+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F23%2F79%2F76ed9fbd4f8b8e357f3df8585eb9%2Fap26106428959801.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8640x5760+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F23%2F79%2F76ed9fbd4f8b8e357f3df8585eb9%2Fap26106428959801.jpg" class="img" alt="Pope Leo XIV leaves at the end of a meeting for peace at Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, with the local community, April 16, 2026, on the fourth day of his 11-day pastoral visit to Africa." fetchpriority="high"/> Pope Leo XIV leaves on the finish of a gathering for peace at Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, with the area people, April 16, 2026, on the fourth day of his 11-day pastoral go to to Africa. Andrew Medichini/AP cover caption

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Andrew Medichini/AP LAGOS, Nigeria — Pope Leo XIV has delivered hanging remarks in Cameroon, condemning world leaders who, he stated, are "ravaging the world" by spending billions on conflict.

The feedback come amid a rising public dispute with President Trump over the continued conflict in Iran.

In a speech in St. Joseph's Cathedral within the Cameroonian metropolis of Bamenda, the pope sharply criticized those that use faith to justify navy actions.

"The masters of conflict faux to not know that it takes solely a second to destroy, but usually a lifetime is just not sufficient to rebuild," he acknowledged.

"Blessed are the peacemakers!" he stated. "However woe to those that manipulate faith and the very identify of God for their very own navy, financial and political achieve, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth."

A few of the Pope's remarks had been directed on the separatist battle in English talking areas in Cameroon, displacing greater than 650,000 and killing greater than 6,500 individuals since 2017 in keeping with the UN. He spoke in Bamunda, a metropolis on the coronary heart of the disaster within the central African nation.

However the pope's broader message was undeniably world.

"The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants," he stated, "but it's held collectively by a large number of supportive brothers and sisters."

Pope Leo's African journey comes amid his sturdy opposition to the continued U.S. and Israeli-led conflict with Iran. His requires peace have drawn sharp criticism from the White Home.

Over the weekend, President Trump attacked the pope as "weak on crime and smooth on international coverage," suggesting that Leo ought to give attention to spiritual issues fairly than politics. In a single submit, Trump shared an AI-generated picture of himself as Christ, which he later deleted.

JD Vance, Trump's vice chairman and a transformed Catholic, additionally criticized Pope Leo, telling him to "keep out of politics" and focus solely on "issues of morality."

At present in Cameroon, Pope Leo's African tour focuses on selling unity, peace, and stronger interfaith relationships.

Pope Leo additionally met with 93-year-old Paul Biya, the world's oldest chief, who received a controversial eighth time period in October 2025, amid widespread irregularities in keeping with human rights teams.

Earlier than the Pope's go to, a outstanding Jesuit priest in Cameroon, Father Ludovic Lado, publicly urged him to not come. He warned the go to may very well be seen as an endorsement of Biya's authorities which he stated orchestrated "large fraud" to increase his rule.

In a speech on the presidential palace on Wednesday, Pope Leo denounced corruption and stated "the administration of public assets and respect for the rule of regulation are important to restoring belief."

However the journey has been overshadowed by the escalating divide between the Vatican and Washington, because the pope's requires peace unfold amid a rising and more and more private conflict with President Trump — notably hanging provided that Pope Leo is the primary American to guide the Catholic Church.