via the NY Times:

Speaking to reporters on a flight to Algeria at the beginning of a 10-day tour to four African nations, Leo said: “I have no fear, neither of the Trump administration, nor of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel. And that’s what I believe I am called here to do.”

Asked specifically about Mr. Trump’s comments on Truth Social, Leo said: “It’s ironic — the name of the site itself. Say no more.”

via NCR:

“I don’t want to get into a debate with him [Trump],” the U.S.-born pope told Reuters on the two-hour flight from Rome to Algiers. “I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing.”…

The pope instead insisted on his responsibility to speak out against war in his capacity as a peacemaker.

“I do not look at my role as being political, a politician,” he said. “Too many people are suffering in the world today, too many innocent people are being killed, and someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way.”…

“The message of the Gospel is very clear, ‘blessed are the peacemakers.’ I will not shy away from announcing the message of the Gospel,” he told reporters on the papal plane. “I am inviting all people to look for ways of building bridges of peace and reconciliation, of looking for ways to avoid war any time that’s possible.”

CNN Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb and Christopher Hale offer their thoughts on CNN: