The US president has lashed out at the pontiff over his criticism of the war in the Middle East

Pope Leo has sought to downplay his public spat with US President Donald Trump, rejecting claims that he was trying to challenge the president with his criticism of the war in Iran and calls for peace.

Speaking to reporters on a flight to Angola on Saturday, the US-born pontiff insisted that his remarks were not meant to be confrontational, while criticizing the media for inflating the row through excessive commentary and speculation.

"There's been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects... much of what has been written... has been more commentary on commentary, trying to interpret what has been said," the Pope said. He stressed that his remarks in Cameroon earlier this week, blasting leaders who spend billions on wars and describing the world as "ravaged by a handful of tyrants," were not directed at Trump.

"And yet, as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate the president, which is not my interest at all," he said.

The Pope has criticized Trump's policies in the past, including mass deportations and his description of Europe as "decaying," though the war in the Middle East has raised tensions between them. He called on all sides to "stop the spiral of violence," and described Trump's threat to destroy Iranian civilization as "unacceptable."

He added that God "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war," after US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth urged Americans to pray "in the name of Jesus Christ."

Trump has described the pope as "weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy," adding that he does not want "a pope who criticizes the President of the United States."

US Vice President J.D. Vance, who also previously criticized the Pope, welcomed Leo's latest remarks.

"I am grateful to Pope Leo for saying this," Vance wrote on X on Sunday. "While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict - and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen -the reality is often much more complicated."

(RT.com)