ABOARD PAPAL PLANE, April 13 (Reuters) - Pope Leo told Reuters on Monday that he plans to continue speaking out against war after U.S. President Donald Trump’s direct attack nL1N40W00Q on the leader of the 1.4-billion-member Church.
In comments aboard the papal flight to Algiers, where the first U.S. pope is starting a 10-day tour to four African countries, the pontiff also said the Christian message was being “abused”.
“I don’t want to get into a debate with him,” Leo told Reuters. “I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing.”
“I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems,” he said, speaking on English.
“Too many people are suffering in the world today,” said Leo. “Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way.”
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Crispian Balmer)
