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BAMENDA, Cameroon — From Bamenda's Catholic cathedral on Thursday, Pope Leo XIV urged both Christians and Muslims to heal wounds of conflict in Cameroon.

When Leo arrived at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, on the fourth day of his trip in Africa, he first visited the Blessed Sacrament Chapel for a moment of prayer together with Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda.

During the interreligious peace gathering, Nkea said the pope's presence was consoling for the people. The meeting included testimonies from local people, including Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims.

"Holy Father, help us to have peace," Imam Mohammad Abubakar of the Central Mosque of Buea said after speaking about violent episodes that have taken place in recent years.

"It is a joy for me to be with you in this region that has suffered so greatly. As your testimonies have just demonstrated, the lived experience of suffering by your community has only made stronger your conviction that God has never abandoned us! In God, in his peace, we can always begin anew!" the pope said.

"May we all continue on the path of goodness which leads to peace," he continued. "I am grateful for your words of welcome, because it is true: I am here to proclaim peace. Yet I find it is you who are proclaiming peace to me, and to the entire world."

Leo praised the witness of local Muslims and Christians in working for peace and said he wishes "this would happen in so many other places of the world."

"Jesus told us: Blessed are the peacemakers! But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth," Leo said.

The Holy Father also expressed his gratitude to all the laypeople and religious women who care for those traumatized by violence — a work that is dangerous and unseen.

"The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet a lifetime is often not enough to rebuild," he said. "We must make a decisive change of course — a true conversion — that will lead us in the opposite direction, onto a sustainable path rich in human fraternity."

"Peace is not something we must invent: It is something we must embrace by accepting our neighbor as our brother and as our sister. We do not choose our brothers and sisters: We simply must accept one another!" he urged.

The pope said: "Let us walk together, in love, searching always for peace."

Outside of the cathedral at the end of the meeting, Pope Leo, accompanied by representatives of the Bamenda community, released seven doves as a sign of peace.

"My dear brothers and sisters, today the Lord has chosen all of us to be workers who bring peace to this land! Let us all say a prayer to the Lord, that peace will truly reign among us, that as we release these white doves — a symbol of peace — that God's peace will be upon all of us, upon this land, and keep us all united in his peace. Praise the Lord!" he said.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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BAMENDA, Cameroon — Despite bad weather, at least 20,000 people gathered on the runways of Bamenda International Airport on Wednesday to take part in the Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV, concluding the second day of the pontiff's visit to Cameroon.

In his homily, Pope Leo praised the faith of the local Church, saying: "The festive celebrations that accompany your liturgies and the joy that flows from the prayers you raise are signs of your trusting surrender to God, of your unshakeable hope and of your clinging, with all your strength, to the love of the Father who draws near and looks with compassion upon the sufferings of his children."

Quoting Psalm 34, the pope reminded the crowd that "the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

He then turned to the wounds afflicting the country and the region.

"Brothers and sisters, there are many situations in life that break our hearts and plunge us into sorrow," Leo said. "Our hope for a future of peace and reconciliation, in which the dignity of every person is respected and their fundamental rights guaranteed, is continually disappointed by the many problems afflicting this beautiful land."

The pope pointed to "the numerous forms of poverty," including an ongoing food crisis, as well as "moral, social, and political corruption, seen above all in the management of wealth, which hinders the development of institutions and infrastructure."

He also cited "the serious problems affecting the education and health care systems, as well as large-scale migration to foreign countries, particularly of young people."

"Added to these internal problems, which are often fueled by hatred and violence, is the damage caused from outside, by those who, in the name of profit, continue to lay their hands on the African continent to exploit and plunder it," he said.

Even so, Leo insisted that the present moment is one for action, not despair.

"Yet this is the moment to change, to transform the story of this country," he said. "The time has come, today and not tomorrow, now and not in the future, to restore the mosaic of unity by bringing together the diversity and riches of the country and the continent. In this way, it will be possible to create a society in which peace and reconciliation reign."

The pope warned that when difficult situations persist for a long time, people can fall into resignation and helplessness. But, he said, "the word of the Lord opens up new possibilities and brings about transformation and healing."

"It is capable of stirring our hearts, of challenging the normal course of events to which we so easily risk becoming accustomed, and of making us active agents of change," he said. "Let us remember this: God is newness, God creates new things, God makes us courageous people who, by confronting evil, build up the good."

Reflecting on the Acts of the Apostles, Leo said the apostles' courage became "a voice of conscience, a prophecy, a denunciation of evil," calling that witness "the first step towards changing things."

"In fact, obeying God is not an act of submission that oppresses us or nullifies our freedom; on the contrary, obedience to God sets us free, because it means entrusting our lives to him and allowing his word to inspire our way of thinking and acting," he said.

Those "who obey God rather than human beings and earthly ways of thinking," he continued, "rediscover their inner freedom, succeed in discovering the value of goodness, and do not resign themselves to evil. They find anew their way in life and become builders of peace and fraternity."

The pope also cautioned Catholics to remain vigilant in their faith.

"We must, however, always keep the apostle Peter's exhortation in our hearts and bring it to mind: Obey God, not human beings. To obey him, because he alone is God," Leo said.

"This calls us to foster inculturation of the Gospel. It also calls us to be vigilant, even regarding our own religious practices, so as not to fall into the trap of mixing the Catholic faith with other beliefs and traditions of an esoteric or Gnostic nature, which in reality often serve political and economic ends."

"Only God sets us free; only his word opens paths to freedom; only his Spirit makes us new people capable of changing this country," he said.

At the end of the Mass, Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda thanked the pope for visiting the region "during this time of insecurity, uncertainty, and discouragement," saying his presence had brought "spiritual uplift, moral encouragement, psychological boost, and physical consolation."

The archbishop said the people of Bamenda were confident that "the peace you have come to pray for shall return once again" to the ecclesiastical province and pledged, on behalf of the bishops of the region, filial loyalty to the pope.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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DOUALA, Cameroon — Pope Leo XIV launched a passionate appeal to authorities in Cameroon to invest in the education and training of young people for lasting peace in the central African nation, where he embarked on a three-day apostolic visit Wednesday.

In his April 15 meeting with civic authorities and the diplomatic corps at the presidential palace on the first day of his visit, Pope Leo described young people as Cameroon's greatest asset and a key to its future, noting that their frustrations mount when they feel that they are not gainfully employed.

"As I have often mentioned, young people represent the hope of the country and of the Church. Their energy and creativity are priceless treasures," the Holy Father said, adding: "Of course, when unemployment and social exclusion persist, frustration can lead to violence."

"Investing in the education, training, and entrepreneurship of young people is, therefore, a strategic choice for peace," he said.

According to the Holy Father, investing in young people is one of the best ways to curb the outflow of talent to other parts of the world.

It is also a good way to combat "the scourges of drugs, prostitution, and apathy, which are devastating too many young lives in an increasingly dramatic way," he said.

"Thankfully, young people in Cameroon possess a deep spirituality that still resists the homogenizing influence of the market," he said. "It is a source of energy that gives value to their dreams, which are rooted in the prophecies that nourish their prayers and their hearts."

The Holy Father said that when the young people are not twisted by what he described as "the poison of fundamentalism and religious traditions" they become prophets of peace, justice, forgiveness, and solidarity.

The pope also highlighted the spiritual strength of Cameroon's youth, noting that despite challenges, many remain deeply rooted in faith.

He expressed particular concern for young people, urging that they be empowered to play an active role in shaping society. "It is my great desire to reach the hearts of all, especially young people, who are called to help shape a world that is more just, including in the political sphere," he said.

In his address, Pope Leo also lauded the richness of the country's land, cultures, languages, and traditions, noting that such resources should not be perceived as weakness but as a treasure to be cherished.

"It is with deep joy that I find myself in Cameroon, often described as 'Africa in miniature' because of the richness of its lands, cultures, languages, and traditions. This variety is not a weakness but a treasure," he said.

The pontiff added that the country's richness as compared to its treasure "constitutes a promise of fraternity and a solid foundation for building lasting peace."

The Holy Father also said that Cameroon possesses the human, cultural, and spiritual resources needed to overcome its trials and conflicts and move toward a future of stability and shared prosperity.

"The common effort in favor of dialogue, justice, and integral development must transform the wounds of the past into sources of renewal," he said.

The pope also called for stronger interreligious cooperation, emphasizing its importance in promoting peace.

"By fostering interreligious dialogue and involving religious leaders in mediation and reconciliation, politics and diplomacy can draw upon moral forces capable of easing tensions, preventing extremism, and promoting a culture of mutual esteem and respect," he said.

He also affirmed the Catholic Church's commitment to serving all people in Cameroon without distinction.

"Through her efforts in education, health care, and charity, the Church in Cameroon desires to continue serving all citizens," he said, adding that it also seeks collaboration with civil authorities and other partners in promoting human dignity and reconciliation.

Addressing the broader mission of his visit, the pope said he came "as a shepherd and as a servant of dialogue, fraternity, and peace," emphasizing that his presence was a sign of the pope's affection for all Cameroonians and a call to persevere in building the common good.

"We are living in a time when hopelessness is rampant and a sense of powerlessness tends to paralyze renewal," he said, adding: "There is such a hunger and thirst for justice, for involvement, for vision, for courageous choices, and for peace."

The Holy Father expressed hope for stronger relations between the Holy See and Cameroon, grounded in shared values. He prayed that God would bless the nation, guide its leaders, strengthen civil society, enlighten the diplomatic corps, and grant all citizens the grace to build a future of justice and peace together.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

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A series of celebrations marking the centenary of the birth of Pope Benedict XVI will take place across four continents beginning on April 16, 2027.

An international committee for the centenary celebrations established by the Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation is coordinating the initiatives, the foundation announced.

"The centenary of Ratzinger's birth is an opportunity to fully present his thought and his approach to reality as significant contributions to the current ecclesial and cultural debate," said Father Roberto Regoli, president of the foundation and of the centenary committee.

"His legacy concerns the interpretation of the Second Vatican Council, the personal experience of Christ, which becomes the key to all branches of theology, and reasonableness as the criterion underlying human reflection on reality," the priest noted.

Events marking 100 years since the beloved German pontiff's birth on April 16, 1927, will take place in several countries in Europe as well as in the U.S., India, Colombia, and Kenya.

Events across the globe

On the first day of the centenary celebrations next April, the fourth volume of selected texts by Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI titled "The Faith of the Future: The Future of the Church" will be presented in Rome at Italy's embassy to the Holy See.

Two events will take place in the U.S. next year. On Nov. 3, at Saint Mary's University in Minneapolis, the presentation of Volume 6 of the "Collected Works" of Joseph Ratzinger will take place; and on Nov. 4–6, in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, a conference will be held on the theme "Joseph Ratzinger and His Sources."

On July 10–11 in Bangalore, the bishops of India will hold a colloquium on the theme "A Rereading of the Theological Journey of Joseph Ratzinger."

On Sept. 10, Péter Pázmány Catholic University in Budapest, Hungary, will host a study day to mark the presentation of Volume 3 of Joseph Ratzinger's complete works in Hungarian: "The God of Faith and the God of Philosophers: Philosophical Reason, Culture, Europe, Society."

On Sept. 24–26, the international conference "For the Centenary of Joseph Ratzinger: Paths of Faith, Hope, and Charity" will take place at the University of La Sabana in Bogotá, Colombia.

On Oct. 14 in Paris, the Collège des Bernardins, the Académie Catholique de France, the Institut de France, the journal "Communio," and the television channel KTO will host an international symposium provisionally titled "The Major Lectures of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI in France."

The international congress "The Beauty of the Liturgy" will be held in Almería, Spain, on Oct. 28–30, and a statue dedicated to Benedict XVI will be unveiled.

In Nairobi, Kenya, a symposium titled "Constellations of Hope: Africa and the Renewal of the Church in the Vision of Benedict XVI" will be held at Tangaza University on Nov. 18–21.

A schedule with more events will be announced at a later date.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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A historic parish in rural Wisconsin suffered major damages amid severe weather in the region on April 14 after strong storms and possibly a tornado destroyed much of the roof of the church building.

St. Joseph Catholic Church in East Bristol lost roughly half of its roof during the weather incident. Photos showed huge portions of the parish roof peeled off, exposing the church's attic and rafters below.

The region has experienced multiple nights of severe storm outbreaks including severe winds, hail, and isolated tornadoes.

Local news reports said tornadoes had been reported in the East Bristol area just after midnight on April 14. The area was under a tornado warning at the time the parish roof was destroyed, though it wasn't clear if a tornado was itself responsible for the destruction.

The parish did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the damage. On the parish's Facebook page, meanwhile, a post claimed that a tornado had hit the church. Images showed destruction inside the church including insulation piled up near the altar and a light fixture in a pew.

A listing on the Wisconsin Historical Society website says the parish was completed in 1890 and designed by local Swiss-American architect Henry Messmer.

Built in the early Gothic Revival manner, the building has seen several additions in the roughly 130 years since it was built, including in 1965 and 2024.

The parish is part of the Diocese of Madison. A press release from the diocese  said the diocesan office of buildings, construction, and real estate was responding to the incident, along with the insurer Catholic Mutual Group.

"St. Joseph Church has served generations of Catholics in northeast Dane County, and we are heartbroken by the devastation," the diocese said. "We ask for your prayers as we assess the damage."

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Amid the fierce persecution against the Catholic Church by the regime of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo, exiled Nicaraguan Bishop Silvio Báez denounced the "false peace" that "dictators seek to impose through fear and weapons."

In the homily delivered during a Mass he celebrated on Sunday, April 12, at St. Agatha Church in Miami, Baez, who has been living in exile since 2019, warned that the wounds inflicted on the Nicaraguan people will remain but that "they will be scars healed by the love of God — wounds glorious forever, wounds of love destined for eternity. So too will be the wounds and sores of our people. One day, they will just be historical scars reminding us of a painful past of injustice and oppression, so that we may never repeat it," he underscored.

A message of hope

The Nicaraguan prelate reflected on the Gospel passage in which the risen Jesus shows his wounds so that the apostle Thomas may touch them and believe.

Báez affirmed that "just like the glorious wounds of Jesus, so too one day will be the wounds we endured as we alleviate and heal, with respect and mercy, the wounds of others."

"And those very wounds — scarred over yet eloquent — will spur us to build the future, acting as artisans of peace, ready to foster processes of healing and reconciliation with ingenuity and boldness," the prelate continued.

Báez denounces 'false peace'

The bishop also referred to the vigil for peace led by Pope Leo XIV on April 11 at the Vatican and pointed out that "peace is not merely the absence of war. Political systems that impose themselves upon people through terror, stripping them of their freedom, are enemies of peace."

"Even if they speak of peace, if they repress, control, imprison, and force people into exile, they are enemies of peace. For peace is not a mere balance of forces, nor is it synonymous with the tranquility of cemeteries. We must not grow accustomed to the false peace and deceptive normality that dictators seek to impose through fear and arms, solely to preserve their privileges," he continued.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Nicaraguan dictatorship has banned thousands of processions and public events during Lent and Holy Week, permitting only a few on the streets and always under police surveillance.

Currently, 309 religious including bishops, priests, and nuns have been forced to leave the country, while the regime has confiscated at least 39 properties belonging to the Catholic Church and has banned the ordination of priests in several dioceses.

A call to be builders of peace

The prelate emphasized that "we, the disciples of Jesus, having received his peace are called to be builders of true peace: a peace that springs from justice, is lived out in freedom, and bears the fruit of reconciliation."

The bishop expressed the hope "that the mercy of the Lord, welcomed into our hearts, may make us mature believers, earnest builders of peace in the world, and people capable of bending down with mercy [to heal] the wounds of our brothers and sisters."

"Our lives may not be easier, but they will be fuller, more vibrant, and more filled with light and love," he said.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Pope Leo XIV finished the first leg of his papal trip to Africa on April 15, wrapping up meetings with Catholics and local religious and civic leaders in Algeria before heading south to Cameroon.

The Holy Father will spend several days in Cameroon before heading on to Angola and Equatorial Guinea during his first apostolic journey to Africa. The trip is scheduled to last through April 23.

Here is a look at the pope's activities in both Algeria and Cameroon:

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Rep. Greg Steube, R-Florida, is urging the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to add crucifixes to its list of acceptable symbols for veteran headstones at national cemeteries.

"In the pursuit of religious freedom, as guaranteed by the First Amendment to our Constitution, we urge the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Cemetery Administration to offer the crucifix as an eligible emblem of belief for inscription on headstones at national cemeteries," Steube said in an April 10 letter addressed to Secretary Douglas Collins of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Undersecretary for Memorial Affairs Samuel Brown.

"Veterans and their next of kin may select from nearly 100 different emblems representing several different belief systems," he said, noting sanctioned emblems include symbols for several Christian denominations as well as Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu symbols.

"While even atheists, humanists, and Wiccans have an eligible emblem of belief for inscription, Catholic veterans do not currently have the option to select a crucifix, an emblem of belief that most accurately represents the faith of nearly 20% of all veterans," he said.

A crucifix is a cross that bears the body of Jesus Christ crucified, which is called the "corpus." It is a spiritual symbol that recalls the passion and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, calling attention to his love, suffering, and redemption of humanity.

Steube's press release quoted Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, saying, "I support the bipartisan effort led by Congressman Greg Steube (R-Florida) to support the free exercise of religion of veterans in having the crucifix included on tombstones."

The archdiocese did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The VA has the authority to add emblems administratively, or lawmakers could introduce legislation if the agency does not act.

Steube's letter, signed by 45 members of Congress — including 42 Republicans and three Democrats — requested the Department of Veterans Affairs provide its criteria for evaluating and approving emblems of belief for inscription on headstones at national cemeteries and whether any prior request had been made to include crucifixes on its list.

"VA is looking into the lawmakers' request and will answer their letter directly," Quinn Slaven, press secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs, told EWTN News.

Republican Reps. Riley Moore of West Virginia, Mike Carey of Ohio, and John Rutherford of Florida were among the 20 Catholic members of Congress who signed on to the letter. Steube is Protestant, according to Pew Research Center.

Steube's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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YAOUNDE, Cameroon — Pope Leo XIV arrived Wednesday in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, after a five-hour flight. While meeting with journalists aboard the papal plane, he delivered a brief address, thanking the Algerian authorities and reflecting on the first leg of the journey.

Leo, speaking in English, expressed his "gratitude to all the authorities in Algeria, who made this visit possible. As you've seen, they've even granted us the full honor of an escort as we fly over Algerian airspace."

This, the pope said, is "a sign of the goodness, of the generosity, of the respect that the Algerian people and the Algerian government have wished to show to the Holy See, to myself. And so I want to say a word of thanks to them, as well as a word of thanks to the very small but very significant presence of the Catholic Church in Algeria."

The pontiff then reflected on the journey.

"We had, as you know," he said, "some very special visits both in the Basilica Notre Dame d'Afrique as well as in Annaba yesterday, in the Basilica of St. Augustine on the hill overlooking both the modern city of Annaba and the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Ippona. And that in itself, I would say, is also symbolically significant, because St. Augustine, who was bishop, as you know, of Hippo for more than 30 years, actually is a figure which is very much from the past and speaks to us of tradition, speaks to us of the life, the Church, as the Church grew in the early centuries."

Continuing to speak about St. Augustine, Leo said that he is "a very important figure today as his writings, his teaching, his spirituality, his invitation to search for God and to search for truth is something that is very much needed today — a message that is very real for all of us today, as believers in Jesus Christ, but for all people. And as you've seen, even the people of Algeria, the vast majority of whom are not Christian, they very much honor and respect the memory of St. Augustine as one of the great sons of their land."

"So it was a special blessing for me personally to return once again to Annaba yesterday," he said, "but also to offer to the Church and the world a vision that St. Augustine offers us in terms of the search for God and the struggle to build community, to seek for unity among all peoples and respect for all peoples in spite of the differences."

The pope concluded: "In two days in Algeria I think we've really had a wonderful opportunity to, if you will, continue to build bridges, to promote dialogue. I think the visit to the mosque was significant and to say that it showed that although we have different beliefs, we have different ways of worshipping, we have different ways of living, we can live together in peace. And so I think that promoting that kind of image is something which the world needs to hear today, and that together we can continue to offer in our witness through as we continue on this apostolic voyage."

Pope Leo XIV is the third pope to visit Cameroon.

Leo will first meet with 92-year-old President Biya, elected to an eighth term and in power for 40 years. After his address to the diplomatic corps — a standard stop at the beginning of every trip — the pope will visit the Ngul Zamba orphanage, a historic point of reference for the care and education of orphaned children and minors in situations of serious social vulnerability.

In addition to Yaoundé, Leo XIV will also visit the city of Bamenda, around 230 miles from the capital, at the center of the Anglophone crisis — a complex situation in which English-speaking separatists have also called for the formation of their own state.

The pope will also visit Douala, Cameroon's economic capital, thus touching all the major realities of the country before departing for Angola on April 18.

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The Knights of Columbus issued a statement that affirms the Catholic fraternal organization's solidarity with Pope Leo XIV as President Donald Trump criticized the Holy Father a second time on Truth Social.

"The Knights of Columbus has always stood in solidarity with the Holy Father, recognizing in him a spiritual father who calls the world not to division but to unity, not to conflict but to peace," Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly said in the statement.

"In this moment, we reaffirm that commitment with clarity and conviction," he said.

Trump escalated his criticism of the Holy Father late Tuesday evening in a second post on Truth Social, which criticized the pontiff's staunch opposition to war.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with Leo's policy views, Kelly said, "the Holy Father's prophetic voice deserves to be heard with respect and engaged seriously."

"Pope Leo XIV has consistently called for peace, dialogue, and restraint in a world marked by war and suffering," he said. "The Holy Father's words are not political talking points — they are reflections of the Gospel itself."

Kelly noted that many Catholics and others "have been deeply disappointed by the disparaging comments directed at Pope Leo XIV" by Trump, and that Leo "is not a politician — he is the vicar of Christ, entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel and shepherding souls."

In his statement, Kelly acknowledged that faithful Catholics can hold differing views on foreign policy and that Catholics should engage in the public square. He said nations can safeguard security "in accordance with the demands of justice and the pursuit of peace."

"The Church does not ask Catholics to withdraw from civic life but to engage with and elevate it — bringing to our civic dialogue the light of truth, respect for the dignity of every human person, and a steadfast concern for the common good," he said.

Kelly also encouraged prayers for the pope, the president, and other politicians.

"As Knights, we are called to be men of unity, as followers of Christ and patriotic citizens," he said. "I encourage all Knights of Columbus to pray for the Holy Father, to pray for civic leaders, and to pray for peace and those working to achieve it."

"And let us recommit ourselves to charity in our public discourse," he added. "May we be known not for echoing the divisions of our time, but for healing them. In a moment of tension, the path forward is not louder conflict but deeper fidelity — to truth, to charity, and to the Gospel."

Trump goes after Leo again

Trump's social media post said: "Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a nuclear bomb is absolutely unacceptable."

During the protests, Leo did call for peace, saying in January that "ongoing tensions [in Iran and Syria] continue to claim many lives."

"I hope and pray that dialogue and peace may be patiently nurtured in pursuit of the common good of the whole of society," he said at the time.

Leo has also strongly opposed nuclear weapons, saying in June 2025: "The further proliferation of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, as well as this escalation of violence, imperils the fragile stability remaining in the region."

While Trump cited numbers exceeding 40,000 people, estimates about the number of people killed in anti-regime protests and unrest in Iran varies a lot, ranging from several thousand to more than 30,000. Most protesters were unarmed, but Iran's government claims some were armed and killed about 500 security personnel. Trump said the United States tried to arm the protesters, but those guns did not get to the right people.

Vance, bishops offer more comments

Catholic bishops and leaders have responded to Trump's attack on Pope Leo, and elected officials also have made statements.

Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland, Oregon, said he is deeply concerned and troubled by Trump's social media rhetoric, especially during Holy Week and Easter, which he says falls short of the moral standard expected of both the presidency and a professed Christian. The archbishop criticized Trump's attacks on Pope Leo, saying the pope's calls for peace and dialogue arise from his pastoral mission, not political ideology.

Sample said the Church's role is to proclaim peace, human dignity, and the Gospel, citing Jesus' teaching: "Blessed are the peacemakers."

The Ancient Order of Hibernians condemned attacks and mockery directed at Pope Leo XIV and the papacy, affirming that respect for the Holy Father is essential to Catholic faith.

Vice President JD Vance, a convert to Catholicism, said at a Turning Point USA event that Pope Leo XIV should "be careful when he talks about matters of theology."

"One of the issues here is that if you're going to opine on matters of theology, you've got to be careful," he said. "You've got to make sure it's anchored in the truth."

Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana said: "Any religious leader can say anything they want, but obviously, if you wade into political waters, I think you should expect some political response."

Pope Leo XIV has responded to Trump's public criticism by saying he has "no fear of the Trump administration" and will continue to speak out boldly with the message of the Gospel.

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