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BumRushDaShow

(170,789 posts)
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 08:49 AM Thursday

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

Irish_Dem

(81,877 posts)
61. St. Francis is my favorite saint.
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 02:54 PM
Thursday

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

(41,162 posts)
8. The NYT headline is 'Blessed Are the Peacemakers,' Pope Says Amid Standoff With Trump'
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 09:24 AM
Thursday

No mention of tyrants in their account.

It’s enough to piss me off.

BumRushDaShow

(170,789 posts)
22. This article was from the UK version of The Independent's reporting
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:08 AM
Thursday

and it finally trickled over to their US version site.

not fooled

(6,722 posts)
73. Good 'ol NYT
Fri Apr 17, 2026, 12:23 PM
Friday

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

Scrivener7

(59,817 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
Thursday

16 years of Catholic education can feel.

hlthe2b

(114,204 posts)
10. The advantage of this American Pope--no euphemism or cynical nuance gets past him.
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 09:28 AM
Thursday
Stay, safe, Pope Leo. These greedy crazies are dangerous too.

sop

(18,901 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
Thursday

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

(25,557 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
Thursday

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

Bayard

(29,962 posts)
35. trump's mental condition is deteriorating worse than Hitler's
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:52 AM
Thursday

The Pope is stating the obvious that everyone knows.

FarPoint

(14,877 posts)
12. I think the Pope need to expand his platform as his message is true.
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 09:48 AM
Thursday

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

(1,882 posts)
23. Same here
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:11 AM
Thursday

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

(38,272 posts)
29. I'm an atheist with lots of problems with Catholicism but...
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:28 AM
Thursday

...in this case I admire the guy.

oberle

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

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

BumRushDaShow

(170,789 posts)
24. And as the first "AMERICAN" Pope
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:17 AM
Thursday

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

(15,735 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
Thursday

For his murderous rampage, as a holy crusade.

Renew Deal

(85,268 posts)
31. It is the right thing to do.
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:46 AM
Thursday

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

(170,789 posts)
34. "They are saying that the Pope should stick to religion."
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:51 AM
Thursday

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

(15,735 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
Thursday

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

(2,583 posts)
64. Does anyone remember William Boykin?
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 04:43 PM
Thursday

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

(15,735 posts)
65. I thought the God of Abraham includes Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 05:07 PM
Thursday

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

BattleRow

(2,583 posts)
66. Well,Boykin was and still is a piece of work.
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 05:27 PM
Thursday

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

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

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

(35,296 posts)
33. I hear you. I will never be into any organized religion...
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 10:49 AM
Thursday

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

(15,473 posts)
39. I have not attended any church for decades, but am a devout follower of Christ.
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 11:04 AM
Thursday

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

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

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

(1,302 posts)
51. The problem with tyrants...
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 11:57 AM
Thursday

...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

(1,681 posts)
52. It's pretty clear who the Good Guy is in this "feud"
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 12:02 PM
Thursday

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

(90,327 posts)
57. Another lapsed Catholic here. Rather fond of this Pope!
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 01:33 PM
Thursday

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

Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

MorbidButterflyTat

(4,630 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
Thursday

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

(319,610 posts)
71. TY & Pope Leo XIV!
Fri Apr 17, 2026, 02:37 AM
Friday
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

(11,302 posts)
72. With all due respect, Your Holiness, that has been going on for centuries.
Fri Apr 17, 2026, 08:46 AM
Friday

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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