Donald Trump closely criticised Pope Leo XIV in a string of social media messages and remarks.
Pope Leo grew to become the chief of the Catholic Church final 12 months (Picture: Getty)
Pope Leo XIV’s brother has spoken about claims the chief of the Catholic Church had cancelled a visit to the US within the midst of a row with Donald Trump. John Prevost moved to close down the hypothesis, insisting experiences of a scrapped go to are merely unfaithful – and that his brother, Pope Leo XIV, had by no means deliberate to journey to the US this 12 months in any respect.
Talking in an interview with NBC Chicago, he mentioned: “I feel one factor that must be made clear is when some newscaster introduced that the Pope canceled a visit to the US. That’s not true. At no time was the Pope planning a visit to the US this 12 months.” The claims had surfaced amid an more and more public conflict between the Vatican and Mr Trump, who has criticised the pontiff over world points together with battle and safety. However Mr Prevost made clear his brother is just not in search of confrontation, insisting his message stays centered on peace. “My brother’s talking for peace and peace and equality for all individuals,” he mentioned. “That’s all he’s saying. He doesn’t need to get right into a debate, he doesn’t need to argue – that’s his message to the world.”
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The claims got here after Pope Leo launched a blistering assault on world leaders he accused of fuelling battle – in remarks extensively seen as a thinly veiled swipe at Donald Trump.
Talking throughout a go to to Cameroon, the pontiff condemned “tyrants” and the “masters of battle” who pour billions into destruction whereas neglecting peace, training and restoration.
He warned of an “limitless cycle of destabilisation and dying” and urged a decisive change in fact, as he criticised those that exploit faith for political and army acquire. He later mentioned his speech was not aimed on the US chief.
The intervention got here after Mr Trump unleashed a rare tirade in opposition to the Pope on Fact Social, branding him “very liberal”, “weak on crime” and “horrible for overseas coverage”.
In an additional escalation, the US President additionally sparked backlash by sharing in a now-deleted Fact Social submit an AI-generated picture showing to depict himself as Jesus Christ.
The more and more bitter disagreement has drawn in different world leaders, with Giorgia Meloni condemning Mr Trump’s remarks as “unacceptable” and backing the Pope’s requires peace.
John Prevost, brother of Pope Leo XIV, who has spoken out amid the row (Picture: AP)
The president has repeatedly praised Pope Leo’s eldest brother – an avid Trump supporter who lives in Florida.
Requested if he would need to meet with the pope to even out their variations, Trump added, “I do not suppose it is necessary.”
Though there aren’t any plans for the Pope to return to the US, presents from his dwelling nation proceed to pour in, based on his sibling, together with Chicago deep dish pizza and a variety of different objects.
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