Pope Leo XIV attempted to downplay his public dispute with U.S. President Trump, denying claims that he was challenging Trump by criticizing Iran's war and calling for peace.
On Saturday, while flying to Angola, the pontiff, who was born in the United States, stated that his remarks were not intended to provoke confrontation and criticized the media for amplifying the conflict through excessive commentary and speculation.
"There has been a narrative, which is inaccurate in many respects... much of what people have written... is more commentary on commentary, attempting to interpret what was said," the Pope emphasized. He clarified that his remarks earlier in the week during a speech in Cameroon—where he criticized leaders spending billions on war and described the world as "a world plundered by a few tyrants"—were not aimed at Trump.
"Yet, in reality, people view me as if I were trying to debate the president, which is entirely not my intention,"
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862971461409927/
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