Pope Leo says doesn't fear Trump, has 'moral duty to speak out' against war

Pope Leo XIV said on Monday that he had "a moral duty" to speak out against war and didn't "fear" President Donald Trump while the US leader criticised his calls for an end to the conflict in the Middle East.

Before taking off from Rome headed to Algiers for a papal visit, the pontiff was criticised by Trump.

The US president railed against Leo's recent comments calling for peace in the Middle East, which is grappling with the war triggered by a joint Israel-US attack on Iran in late February.

Trump later doubled down on criticisms, saying there was "nothing to apologise for."

Pope says he is 'not a politician'

"Pope Leo said things that are wrong," Trump said. "He was very much against what I'm doing with regard to Iran, and you cannot have a nuclear Iran."

The pope had told reporters aboard the papal plane before arriving in Algiers that he had "no intention to debate with" Trump, adding that he was "not a politician."

"What I am saying is that the mission of the Church is very clear," he said. "The Gospel says... blessed are the peacemakers. I believe that the Church has a moral duty to speak out very clearly against war and in favour of peace and reconciliation."

The pope added: "I have no fear, neither of the Trump administration, nor speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel."

Italy faults Trump

Earlier, the US president had said Leo was "toying with a country (Iran) that wants a nuclear weapon", adding that he was "not a big fan of Pope Leo."

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni termed Trump's criticism of Pope Leo XIV's comments "unacceptable", saying "it is right and normal for (Leo) to call for peace and to condemn all forms of war."

In his first speech in Algiers, Leo paid tribute to victims of the country's 1954-1962 war of independence from France and called for "forgiveness."

"In this place, let us remember that God desires peace for every nation," he said at the Algerian Martyrs Memorial in the capital.

'Precious opportunity to promote peace'

The pope called his trip to Algeria "a very precious opportunity" to promote "peace and reconciliation with respect and consideration for all peoples."

He had also criticised as "unacceptable" Trump's threats against civilians in Iran.

Speaking during his flight, Leo said: "We're not politicians, we're not looking to make foreign policy as he calls it with the same perspective that he might understand it."

The papal visit to Africa takes in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, and will cover more than 18,000 kilometres between April 13 and 23.