Pope: ‘If someone criticizes me for proclaiming the Gospel, let him do so truthfully’

Before he returned to Rome from Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday evening, Pope Leo XIV spoke briefly to reporters and responded to the latest critical remarks made about him by US President Donald Trump.

“The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach peace,” he said. “If someone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let him do so truthfully.”

Speaking outside Villa Barberini, his residence in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo recalled that the Church has consistently spoken against nuclear weapons.

“For years, the Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt on that point,” the Pope said, responding to President Trump’s claim that the Pope considers it acceptable for Iran to possess nuclear weapons, thereby placing all Catholics at risk.

“I simply hope to be listened to because of the value of the word of God,” Pope Leo XIV stressed, reiterating that he has spoken clearly “from the first moment I was elected, and now we are close to the anniversary. I said: ‘Peace be with you’.”

Regarding his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, scheduled for Thursday, May 7, the Pope expressed his hope that it would be “a good dialogue,” approached “with trust and openness,” so as “to understand one another well.”

“I think the issues he is coming for are not today’s issues. We shall see,” Pope Leo added, again referring to the comments made by the US President.