Pope Leo XIV Clarifies Trump Dispute and Warns Against AI During Africa Tour

Pope Leo XIV has clarified that his recent remarks made during a visit to Africa were not intended as a response to criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump, rejecting claims of a public dispute between the Vatican and the American political figure.

The pontiff made the statement upon concluding his visit to Cameroon on April 17, 2026, where he had denounced the societal harms caused by unregulated artificial intelligence, particularly its impact on youth and democratic processes across the continent.

Speaking to reporters at Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport before departing for Angola, Pope Leo XIV said his comments in Cameroon and earlier in the Democratic Republic of Congo were taken out of context and wrongly framed as a rebuttal to Trump’s recent public comments about the role of religion in public life.

“I regret that my words have been interpreted as a debate with Mr. Trump,” the Pope said. “My message was directed to the faithful and civil society in Africa, concerning the ethical use of technology and the protection of human dignity — not to engage in any political polemic.”

The clarification comes after several media outlets, including French and Belgian publications, reported on an alleged exchange between the Pope and Trump, suggesting the pontiff had indirectly countered the former president’s views during his African tour. Trump had previously criticized what he described as the Vatican’s increasing involvement in global political debates, particularly on migration and climate change.

Pope Leo XIV, who began his papacy in March 2026 following the resignation of Pope Francis, has made outreach to the Global South a central theme of his early pontificate. His current tour, which began in the Democratic Republic of Congo and continued through Cameroon and Angola, focuses on peacebuilding, technological ethics, and interfaith dialogue in regions experiencing rapid digital transformation.

In Cameroon, the Pope warned that “the unchecked spread of artificial intelligence risks deepening inequality, eroding truth, and undermining the moral formation of young people,” calling for international cooperation to establish ethical boundaries for AI development, especially in education and media.

He reiterated similar concerns in Luanda, Angola, where he met with government officials, civil society leaders, and representatives of the Catholic Church to discuss how emerging technologies can serve the common good without compromising human values.

The Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, echoed the Pope’s position in a separate briefing, stating that the Holy See engages with global leaders on moral and humanitarian grounds, not as part of partisan or ideological contests.

Officials from the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See declined to comment on the matter, referring questions to the White House. Former President Trump has not responded publicly to the Pope’s remarks.

Analysts note that while the Pope avoids direct political confrontation, his emphasis on technology ethics reflects growing concern within the Church about the societal impact of innovation, particularly in Africa, where digital adoption is accelerating faster than regulatory frameworks.

The papal tour is scheduled to continue through the week, with stops in Gabon and the Republic of Congo before returning to Rome. No further public engagements with political figures from the United States are planned during the trip.