Archbishop of Canterbury latest to back Pope after scathing attack from Donald Trump
The presiding bishop of the Church of England has expressed support for Pope Leo’s calls for peace, amid an escalating war of words between the pope and US president Donald Trump. The support from Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally came as the head of the Catholic Church warned on Thursday that the world was “devastated by a handful of tyrants”.
Dame Sarah, who will meet the Pope in Rome later this month, said she stood with the pope in his “bold appeal for a kingdom of peace” and called on “all those entrusted with political authority to pursue every possible peaceful and just means to resolve the conflict.”
The confirmation comes after Mr Trump branded the Pope “weak” earlier this week and demanded that the religious leader “focus on being the Great Pope, not the Politician”.
Those comments are in stark contrast to remarks made almost a year ago, when Mr. Trump called the event “a Great Honor for our Country” and said he was looking forward to a “very meaningful moment” following the election of the first US-born Pope. When he met with the religious leader. But this week the US president told reporters he didn’t think the pope was “doing a very good job” and added that he was “not a fan of Pope Leo”.
Mr Trump’s harsh criticism followed the Pope’s Easter message earlier this month, in which he strongly condemned the war and called on “those who have weapons to put them down”. The Pope has since insisted that he will “continue to stand up and say ‘there is a better way'” and that he is “not afraid of the Trump administration”, but has also said that he does not intend to “get into an argument” with the US leader.
Pope Leo remained outspoken in his criticism of the war and his desire for peace in his speech Thursday during a four-country tour of Africa.
Speaking at a cathedral in the West Cameroon city of Bamenda, he said: “Blessed are the peacemakers.
“But woe to those who manipulate religion and the name of God for their own military, economic and political interests, dragging the sacred into darkness and filth.”
He added: “The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, but is held together by the multitude of brothers and sisters who support it.”
In a now-deleted post, Mr. Trump shared a photo of himself earlier this week that many said appeared to be a Christ-like figure.
Amid criticism from some, Mr. Trump rejected the idea that he was likening himself to the son of God, saying: “As a doctor, I’m supposed to be the one making people better. And I make people better. I make people a lot better.”
Dame Sarah said: “I stand with my brother in Christ, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, in his bold appeal for the kingdom of peace.
“The human cost of war is incalculable, as innocent people are killed and displaced, families are torn apart and futures are destroyed. This is a call for every Christian and all people of faith and good will to work and pray for peace.
“We must also call on all those in political authority to use every possible peaceful and fair means to resolve the conflict.”
Dame Sarah said she will “meet and pray with Pope Leo” at the Vatican during her four-day visit to Rome, which starts on April 25.
