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BumRushDaShow

(171,416 posts)
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 08:49 AM Apr 16

Pope Leo says world 'being ravaged by handful of tyrants' after Trump attacks

Source: The Independent

Thursday 16 April 2026 13:24 BST


Pope Leo has said that the world is being “ravaged by a handful of tyrants” amid a deepening row over the war in Iran with US President Donald Trump. Speaking on a visit to Cameroon, the pontiff blasted leaders who spend billions on wars in unusually forceful remarks.

Leo, the first American pope, also decried leaders who used religious language to justify wars and urged a "decisive change of course". "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," the pontiff said.

"They turn a blind eye to the fact that ⁠billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, ​education ⁠and restoration are nowhere to be found." The pontiff sharply criticised leaders who invoked religious themes to justify wars, saying: “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 the world had “turned upside down” and that said that it is an “exploitation of God’s creation that must be denounced and ‌rejected by every honest conscience.” Leo has emerged as an outspoken critic of Trump’s war in Iran, which has sparked fighting across the Middle East and a global economic crisis.

Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/pope-leo-trump-truth-social-attack-b2958952.html

73 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Pope Leo says world 'being ravaged by handful of tyrants' after Trump attacks (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Apr 16 OP
Hear!! Hear!! littlemissmartypants Apr 16 #1
He is correct..................... Lovie777 Apr 16 #2
The Pope is speaking the truth here FakeNoose Apr 16 #3
K&R ck4829 Apr 16 #4
Psychopaths rule the world now and are destroying it. Irish_Dem Apr 16 #5
Are you allowed to fall in love with a pope? Irish_Dem Apr 16 #6
Fun fact: St. Francis' best friend, was named Leo peppertree Apr 16 #14
St. Francis is my favorite saint. Irish_Dem Apr 16 #61
Hope so ck4829 Apr 16 #43
I rather like his rhetoric. NNadir Apr 16 #7
As do I ck4829 Apr 16 #44
The NYT headline is 'Blessed Are the Peacemakers,' Pope Says Amid Standoff With Trump' BeyondGeography Apr 16 #8
This article was from the UK version of The Independent's reporting BumRushDaShow Apr 16 #22
Ugh... NYT ck4829 Apr 16 #45
Good 'ol NYT not fooled Apr 17 #73
I love him more every day. And I turned away from the church with the disgust that only a person with Scrivener7 Apr 16 #9
The advantage of this American Pope--no euphemism or cynical nuance gets past him. hlthe2b Apr 16 #10
Dangerous indeed. They wouldn't think twice. Talitha Apr 16 #17
Seconded ck4829 Apr 16 #46
Trump will not allow the Pope's words to go unanswered, we can expect several hundred unhinged Truth Social sop Apr 16 #11
He is removing Federal grants to Catholic Charities. That shows the depth of His moral clarity. Midnight Writer Apr 16 #21
Showing the world just how petty he is ck4829 Apr 16 #47
And "proudly" brags about it in all available media. Justice matters. Apr 16 #59
trump's mental condition is deteriorating worse than Hitler's Bayard Apr 16 #35
For real ck4829 Apr 16 #48
I think the Pope need to expand his platform as his message is true. FarPoint Apr 16 #12
Pope Leo is just the pope the world needs at this time Grim Chieftain Apr 16 #13
im not religous oldinmtdem92 Apr 16 #20
Same here Grim Chieftain Apr 16 #23
I'm an atheist with lots of problems with Catholicism but... NNadir Apr 16 #29
Hmm... perhaps ck4829 Apr 16 #49
I'm a church organist oberle Apr 16 #68
Kick dalton99a Apr 16 #15
He should have named them but the world knows who he's talking about. ChicagoTeamster Apr 16 #16
K&R Talitha Apr 16 #18
This is happening because Trump and the republican party decided to argue with the Pope Renew Deal Apr 16 #19
And as the first "AMERICAN" Pope BumRushDaShow Apr 16 #24
And he's from that Democrat Hellhole Chicago! NBachers Apr 16 #67
Pope Leo may have felt the need to speak up when Hegseth appropriated God and Jesus Martin Eden Apr 16 #28
It is the right thing to do. Renew Deal Apr 16 #31
"They are saying that the Pope should stick to religion." BumRushDaShow Apr 16 #34
Quite right. Politicians and generals should stay in their lanes, and not invoke God to justify their actions Martin Eden Apr 16 #37
Does anyone remember William Boykin? BattleRow Apr 16 #64
I thought the God of Abraham includes Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Martin Eden Apr 16 #65
Well,Boykin was and still is a piece of work. BattleRow Apr 16 #66
Tyrants bankrolled Miguelito Loveless Apr 16 #25
Yep. The worst of the worst. ck4829 Apr 16 #50
I stand with Pope Leo on the side of healing, education, restoration. Clouds Passing Apr 16 #26
Pope Leo! callous taoboy Apr 16 #27
I am not a religious man but damn, denvine Apr 16 #30
I hear you. I will never be into any organized religion... ananda Apr 16 #33
I have not attended any church for decades, but am a devout follower of Christ. PatrickforB Apr 16 #39
That speaks for me! ananda Apr 16 #32
Good for him! Hey Joe Apr 16 #36
I love this Pope!!!!!!!!! n/t PatrickforB Apr 16 #38
In a battle of wits between The Felon and The Pope, Wednesdays Apr 16 #40
Me too. ck4829 Apr 16 #42
Kick ck4829 Apr 16 #41
The problem with tyrants... purr-rat beauty Apr 16 #51
It's pretty clear who the Good Guy is in this "feud" thought crime Apr 16 #52
Hey traitor, to paraphrase Colonel Nathan R. Jessep, you fucked with the wrong pope. mobeau69 Apr 16 #53
"Darkness and filth" is a very good description of trump himself.😐 Figarosmom Apr 16 #54
Lapsed Catholic here....Loving this Pope! Sogo Apr 16 #55
Another lapsed Catholic here. Rather fond of this Pope! calimary Apr 16 #57
He sounds American, alright RetiredParatrooper Apr 16 #56
This message was self-deleted by its author bmichaelh Apr 16 #58
I really wish the stupid media wouldn't characterize what's happening as a damn "row" MorbidButterflyTat Apr 16 #60
"darkness and filth" LudwigPastorius Apr 16 #62
Well yeah. Infringing on papal territory. twodogsbarking Apr 16 #63
Kick BlueWavePsych Apr 16 #69
His brother John had bomb threat yesterday Zertz11 Apr 16 #70
TY & Pope Leo XIV! Cha Apr 17 #71
With all due respect, Your Holiness, that has been going on for centuries. OldBaldy1701E Apr 17 #72

Irish_Dem

(82,022 posts)
61. St. Francis is my favorite saint.
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 02:54 PM
Apr 16

He is the source of the best prayer of all times:

The Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

BeyondGeography

(41,186 posts)
8. The NYT headline is 'Blessed Are the Peacemakers,' Pope Says Amid Standoff With Trump'
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 09:24 AM
Apr 16

No mention of tyrants in their account.

It’s enough to piss me off.

BumRushDaShow

(171,416 posts)
22. This article was from the UK version of The Independent's reporting
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:08 AM
Apr 16

and it finally trickled over to their US version site.

not fooled

(6,738 posts)
73. Good 'ol NYT
Fri Apr 17, 2026, 12:23 PM
Apr 17

They (almost) never miss an opportunity to soft-pedal and downplay criticism of the madness and evil of this regime

Scrivener7

(59,966 posts)
9. I love him more every day. And I turned away from the church with the disgust that only a person with
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 09:25 AM
Apr 16

16 years of Catholic education can feel.

hlthe2b

(114,389 posts)
10. The advantage of this American Pope--no euphemism or cynical nuance gets past him.
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 09:28 AM
Apr 16
Stay, safe, Pope Leo. These greedy crazies are dangerous too.

sop

(19,091 posts)
11. Trump will not allow the Pope's words to go unanswered, we can expect several hundred unhinged Truth Social
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 09:30 AM
Apr 16

screeds over the next few hours/days. At some point Trump and his henchmen will threaten to arrest Leo, possibly even have him killed. We've been here before:

'Behind a Nazi Plot to Seize the Pope'

(NPR) "In September 1943, the tide of the war was turning against the Nazis, and a secret plan to kidnap — and possibly kill — Pope Pius XII was under way."

"Adolf Hitler, whose mental condition was deteriorating, feared the Pope would speak out about Nazi actions against the Jews, and ordered his SS leader in Italy, Gen. Karl Wolff, to carry out the deed."

https://www.npr.org/2007/06/17/11096772/behind-a-nazi-plot-to-seize-the-pope

Midnight Writer

(25,633 posts)
21. He is removing Federal grants to Catholic Charities. That shows the depth of His moral clarity.
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:08 AM
Apr 16

His reaction to every criticism is to prove the criticism is not only accurate, but understated, bigly.

Bayard

(30,086 posts)
35. trump's mental condition is deteriorating worse than Hitler's
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:52 AM
Apr 16

The Pope is stating the obvious that everyone knows.

FarPoint

(14,920 posts)
12. I think the Pope need to expand his platform as his message is true.
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 09:48 AM
Apr 16

People within these aggressive countries don't want these dictators....The Pope can help them rise up....Just my opinion... we need someone to do this task.

Grim Chieftain

(1,937 posts)
23. Same here
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:11 AM
Apr 16

I haven't been to church in years, but I thank whatever powers that be for Pope Leo.

By the way, welcome to DU. Great people here!

NNadir

(38,380 posts)
29. I'm an atheist with lots of problems with Catholicism but...
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:28 AM
Apr 16

...in this case I admire the guy.

oberle

(393 posts)
68. I'm a church organist
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 06:18 PM
Apr 16

whose stated religion is "whoever is paying the highest", and I love this Pope.

BumRushDaShow

(171,416 posts)
24. And as the first "AMERICAN" Pope
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:17 AM
Apr 16

he has to vociferously distinguish himself from the vile, craven, and blasphemous loons who have hijacked and infested our government.

I am waiting for 45 to threaten to revoke his U.S. citizenship and that could set off a holy war within this country (especially when you have fake Catholics like Vance and Holman, doubling and tripling down on insulting the titular head of the church they claim to be a part of).

Martin Eden

(15,804 posts)
28. Pope Leo may have felt the need to speak up when Hegseth appropriated God and Jesus
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:28 AM
Apr 16

For his murderous rampage, as a holy crusade.

Renew Deal

(85,300 posts)
31. It is the right thing to do.
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:46 AM
Apr 16

The blasphemy (in the eyes of the church) from these guys shouldn't go unanswered. They are saying that the Pope should stick to religion. When they invoke God to justify war and when they make genocidal threats, they are crossing the religious line (regardless of what you think about religion).

BumRushDaShow

(171,416 posts)
34. "They are saying that the Pope should stick to religion."
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:51 AM
Apr 16

But then fake Catholic loonybin Vance doubles down and commands that the head of the church that he supposedly "converted" to, should "be careful" when speaking about "religion".

He needs to be excommunicated post haste and it's time to bring out the exorcists.

Martin Eden

(15,804 posts)
37. Quite right. Politicians and generals should stay in their lanes, and not invoke God to justify their actions
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 11:00 AM
Apr 16

Their hypocrisy needs to be more prominent in the narrative of this story.

Trump and the Republican Party could not win elections without pandering to "conservative" Christians who are either too gullible to see these charlatans for what they are -- or are hypocrites themselves, flaunting their religiosity while rejecting the lessons of Jesus.

BattleRow

(2,637 posts)
64. Does anyone remember William Boykin?
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 04:43 PM
Apr 16

The military top brass from GWB era who stated that his god was bigger than Islams god?

Hoo,boy,Wikipedia has a very eye opening entry on him and his "Christian Nationalist" history.

Martin Eden

(15,804 posts)
65. I thought the God of Abraham includes Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 05:07 PM
Apr 16

But Man created God in man's own image, so deities can be modified.

BattleRow

(2,637 posts)
66. Well,Boykin was and still is a piece of work.
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 05:27 PM
Apr 16

Much of the Christian Diominionist movement and its emergence among the DC power brokers was discussed in Jeff Sharlets "The Family" and Wayne Madsens " Christian Mafia".
Well worth a review .

denvine

(869 posts)
30. I am not a religious man but damn,
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:38 AM
Apr 16

I love this Pope! With that type of teaching and moral compass, there is a slight, remote possibility I would be open to re-examining my aversion to organized religion. I'm an ex-Catholic!

ananda

(35,392 posts)
33. I hear you. I will never be into any organized religion...
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:49 AM
Apr 16

but, at the same time, I don't throw out the baby
with the bathwater.

There are good aspects to every religion, particularly
the mysticism and the message of love and inclusion.

I'm Catholic to the core, but only as far as the mysticism,
love, and inclusion part... iow, the message of Christ.

I also like the mystical aspects of all the other religions.

PatrickforB

(15,495 posts)
39. I have not attended any church for decades, but am a devout follower of Christ.
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 11:04 AM
Apr 16

This Pope is speaking prophetically and using that bully pulpit to speak truth to power. While I realize the Catholic Church has many, many problems, Leo is using this prophetic voice as it should have been used for decades. Finally, we have a religious voice speaking about wealth imbalance and the evils of the military industrial complex.

Hey Joe

(739 posts)
36. Good for him!
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:55 AM
Apr 16

We need people of power to speak the truth
against these horrors being inflicted upon innocent people everywhere!
Trump is being foolish, as usual, to lash out at the pope for simply doing his job and administering to his followers.
He simply can’t stand anyone getting more attention than him.

purr-rat beauty

(1,365 posts)
51. The problem with tyrants...
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 11:57 AM
Apr 16

...is they are tyrants

They pervert the law to their liking

You are a terrorist or a target if you barely disagree with them.

How do we rid us of this scum in a collectively acceptable way minimizing our own self-destruction?

thought crime

(1,743 posts)
52. It's pretty clear who the Good Guy is in this "feud"
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 12:02 PM
Apr 16

It isn't necessary to read between the lines or listen to insightful analysis. It doesn't really matter whether you are religious or what religion you follow or what country you are from or what ideology you prefer.

This is pretty basic. A Cocker Spaniel could figure this out.

calimary

(90,498 posts)
57. Another lapsed Catholic here. Rather fond of this Pope!
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 01:33 PM
Apr 16

He seems to understand that we humans (himself included) are imperfect beings living in an imperfect world.

Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

MorbidButterflyTat

(4,696 posts)
60. I really wish the stupid media wouldn't characterize what's happening as a damn "row"
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 02:37 PM
Apr 16

Or a feud or anything other than a psychotic asshole whining like a baby because he doesn't like what the Pope says.

Piggy is pathologically insecure and insane and steals and destroys everything. I'd like to see someone report that.

Cha

(320,110 posts)
71. TY & Pope Leo XIV!
Fri Apr 17, 2026, 02:37 AM
Apr 17
Leo, the first American pope, also decried leaders who used religious language to justify wars and urged a "decisive change of course". "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," the pontiff said.

OldBaldy1701E

(11,392 posts)
72. With all due respect, Your Holiness, that has been going on for centuries.
Fri Apr 17, 2026, 08:46 AM
Apr 17

The rich always take advantage of the poor.

Always. It is nothing new.

It is the complacency (and delusion, let's not sugarcoat this) of enough of the masses to allow him and his ilk the chance to act like leeches that created this mess.

Maybe we need to address that issue?

(Like that would ever happen.)

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