Pope Leo Condemns War Spending in Cameroon Amid Trump Criticism
On Thursday, Pope Leo delivered a powerful message in Cameroon, criticizing global leaders for pouring billions into military efforts while neglecting education and healthcare. He spoke in the largest city of the anglophone regions, a place deeply scarred by ongoing conflict that has claimed thousands of lives. The pope referred to these leaders as 'a handful of tyrants' responsible for worldwide suffering. He condemned those who use religious justifications for war and urged for a 'decisive change of course.' His comments came amid social media attacks from US President Donald Trump, which started just before the pope’s four-nation African tour. Recently more vocal, Leo has spoken out against the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, emphasizing how quickly destruction occurs compared to the long road of recovery.
Key facts
- Pope Leo delivered remarks in Cameroon on Thursday
- He criticized leaders for spending billions on wars
- Leo called for a 'decisive change of course'
- He spoke in Cameroon's largest anglophone city
- A simmering conflict in the region has left thousands dead
- US President Donald Trump attacked Leo on social media
- Trump's attacks began before Leo's four-country African tour
- Africa contains more than 20% of the world's Catholics
- Leo has become an outspoken critic of the US-Israeli-Iran conflict
- He leads the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church
Entities
Institutions
- Catholic Church
Locations
- Cameroon
- Africa
- United States
- Iran
- Israel