Pope Leo XIV sharpened his criticism of war rhetoric and blasted the “handful of tyrants” who are ravaging Earth while reiterating a call for peace amid his standoff with US President Donald Trump and his administration. Addressing a gathering in Bamenda, Cameroon, on Thursday, the Pope warned against invoking religion to justify violence.“Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth,” he said, adding, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”The comments come as the Trump administration has framed its military actions in Iran as a “just war,” claiming alignment with Christian principles, a position the Pope has firmly rejected.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-says-israel-won-t-retreat-from-positions-in-lebanon-during-10-day-ceasefire-1776367731291">Netanyahu says Israel won’t retreat from positions in Lebanon during 10-day ceasefire</a>&nbsp;He called for a “decisive change of course” that leads away from conflict and the exploitation of the land and its people for military or economic gain.“The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters!”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lebanon-s-president-declined-to-speak-with-netanyahu-insisted-ceasefire-precede-negotiations-1776359928103">Lebanon’s president declined to speak with Netanyahu, insisted ceasefire precede negotiations</a>&nbsp;Importantly, the remarks were delivered in a region grappling with its own decade-long separatist conflict.&nbsp;Leo earlier said that Jesus does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, drawing sharp criticism from Trump, who earlier this week described the pontiff as terrible on foreign policy. The dispute has since escalated, with Vice President JD Vance also urging the Pope to be more “careful” when speaking on theological matters.However, the Pope has shown no signs of softening his stance and said he had no fear of the Trump administration and would continue to speak out loudly about the message of the Gospel.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-this-will-be-my-10th-trump-announces-10-day-ceasefire-between-israel-and-lebanon-1776354944757">‘This will be my 10th’: Trump announces 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon</a>&nbsp;In Cameroon, Leo also took aim at governance failures, indirectly criticising long-time President Paul Biya. He said public authorities must act as bridges, “never as sources of division,” stressing that “authentic peace” arises when everyone feels protected, heard and respected.&nbsp;The Pope also condemned the scale of military spending worldwide. “The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pope Leo XIV earlier said that Jesus does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, drawing sharp criticism from Donald Trump, who had described the pontiff as terrible on foreign policy. The dispute has since escalated.

Pope Leo XIV sharpened his criticism of war rhetoric and blasted the “handful of tyrants” who are ravaging Earth while reiterating a call for peace amid his standoff with US President Donald Trump and his administration. Addressing a gathering in Bamenda, Cameroon, on Thursday, the Pope warned against invoking religion to justify violence. “Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth,” he said, adding, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” The comments come as the Trump administration has framed its military actions in Iran as a “just war,” claiming alignment with Christian principles, a position the Pope has firmly rejected. Also Read: Netanyahu says Israel won’t retreat from positions in Lebanon during 10-day ceasefire He called for a “decisive change of course” that leads away from conflict and the exploitation of the land and its people for military or economic gain. “The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters!” Also Read: Lebanon’s president declined to speak with Netanyahu, insisted ceasefire precede negotiations Importantly, the remarks were delivered in a region grappling with its own decade-long separatist conflict. Leo earlier said that Jesus does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, drawing sharp criticism from Trump, who earlier this week described the pontiff as terrible on foreign policy. The dispute has since escalated, with Vice President JD Vance also urging the Pope to be more “careful” when speaking on theological matters. However, the Pope has shown no signs of softening his stance and said he had no fear of the Trump administration and would continue to speak out loudly about the message of the Gospel. Also Read: ‘This will be my 10th’: Trump announces 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon In Cameroon, Leo also took aim at governance failures, indirectly criticising long-time President Paul Biya. He said public authorities must act as bridges, “never as sources of division,” stressing that “authentic peace” arises when everyone feels protected, heard and respected. The Pope also condemned the scale of military spending worldwide. “The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild,” he said.

Pope Leo XIV earlier said that Jesus does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, drawing sharp criticism from Donald Trump, who had described the pontiff as terrible on foreign policy. The dispute has since escalated.

‘Woe to those who manipulate God for war’: Pope Leo condemns ‘tyrants’ amid Trump feud

US Vice President JD Vance used his Tuesday (Apr 14) appearance at a Turning Point USA event in Georgia to offer Pope Leo XIV some unsolicited guidance on Catholic theology, warning that the pontiff should "be careful" when commenting on matters of faith. Vance's statement comes amid a very public feud between US President Donald Trump and the Pope. Trump on Monday (Apr 13) posted a 334-word-long Truth Social post bashing the American pope, calling him "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy". He later added to the controversy by posting an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus, healing a sick man. The Pope, meanwhile, dismissed Trump's criticism, saying he had "no fear, neither of the Trump administration nor speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jd-vance-defends-trump-post-calls-ai-generated-jesus-image-a-joke-tells-pope-leo-to-stick-to-matters-of-morality-1776153347094">JD Vance defends Trump post, calls AI-generated ‘Jesus’ image a joke, tells Pope Leo to stick to ‘matters of morality’</a><h2>What did Vance say?</h2>Speaking at a Turning Point event, Vance, who converted to Catholicism at the age of 35, lashed out at the Pope, saying: "If you're going to opine on matters of theology, you've got to make sure it's anchored in the truth."The flashpoint was Leo's public criticism of the Trump administration's war on Iran. The Chicago-born pontiff recently wrote on X that God "does not bless any conflict" and that "anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs."Vance pushed back by invoking just war theory, the centuries-old theological framework that holds that violence can, under specific conditions, be morally justified. He pointed to the Allied liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany as an example. "How can you say that God is never on the side of those who wield the sword?" he said. "There is a more than a thousand-year tradition of just war theory."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pezeshkian-warns-macron-of-broad-consequences-if-hormuz-is-threatened-says-iran-open-to-negotiations-but-1776133943246">Pezeshkian warns Macron of 'broad consequences' if Hormuz is threatened, says Iran open to negotiations but...</a><h2>Vance quotes theology theory at Pope with doctorate in theology</h2>What Vance did not appear to account for is that Pope Leo XIV arguably has a more direct claim to that tradition than almost anyone alive. Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost, holds a theology degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, the institution named after one of just war theory's principal architects. He also served for over a decade as Prior General of the Order of St. Augustine, the religious order founded in the name of the theologian who first developed the just war framework. He is the first Augustinian pope in history.&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.&nbsp;&nbsp;

US Vice President JD Vance has publicly challenged Pope Leo XIV on theology. As tensions rise between Donald Trump and the head of the Catholic Church, Vance invoked “just war theory” to counter the Pope’s criticism of the Iran conflict.

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US Vice President JD Vance used his Tuesday (Apr 14) appearance at a Turning Point USA event in Georgia to offer Pope Leo XIV some unsolicited guidance on Catholic theology, warning that the pontiff should "be careful" when commenting on matters of faith. Vance's statement comes amid a very public feud between US President Donald Trump and the Pope. Trump on Monday (Apr 13) posted a 334-word-long Truth Social post bashing the American pope, calling him "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy". He later added to the controversy by posting an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus, healing a sick man. The Pope, meanwhile, dismissed Trump's criticism, saying he had "no fear, neither of the Trump administration nor speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel." Also read | JD Vance defends Trump post, calls AI-generated ‘Jesus’ image a joke, tells Pope Leo to stick to ‘matters of morality’ What did Vance say? Speaking at a Turning Point event, Vance, who converted to Catholicism at the age of 35, lashed out at the Pope, saying: "If you're going to opine on matters of theology, you've got to make sure it's anchored in the truth." The flashpoint was Leo's public criticism of the Trump administration's war on Iran. The Chicago-born pontiff recently wrote on X that God "does not bless any conflict" and that "anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs." Vance pushed back by invoking just war theory, the centuries-old theological framework that holds that violence can, under specific conditions, be morally justified. He pointed to the Allied liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany as an example. "How can you say that God is never on the side of those who wield the sword?" he said. "There is a more than a thousand-year tradition of just war theory." Also read | Pezeshkian warns Macron of 'broad consequences' if Hormuz is threatened, says Iran open to negotiations but... Vance quotes theology theory at Pope with doctorate in theology What Vance did not appear to account for is that Pope Leo XIV arguably has a more direct claim to that tradition than almost anyone alive. Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost, holds a theology degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, the institution named after one of just war theory's principal architects. He also served for over a decade as Prior General of the Order of St. Augustine, the religious order founded in the name of the theologian who first developed the just war framework. He is the first Augustinian pope in history. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

US Vice President JD Vance has publicly challenged Pope Leo XIV on theology. As tensions rise between Donald Trump and the head of the Catholic Church, Vance invoked “just war theory” to counter the Pope’s criticism of the Iran conflict.Scroll down to read more.

'Be careful...': Pope has a doctorate in theology, but JD Vance just told him he’s wrong about God

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‘Woe to those who manipulate God for war’: Pope Leo condemns ‘tyrants’ amid Trump feud

'Be careful...': Vance tells Pope he’s wrong about God