Leo XIV has had a reputation for being cautious. But since President Trump attacked him at the start of his Africa trip, he has been more combative.

From the moment that Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV last year, a clash between Rome and Washington was inevitable.

Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo XIV polarizing the diverse community as faith and politics come to a head

Flying to Algeria at the start of his landmark Africa tour on Monday, Pope Leo had a choice. He could ignore Donald Trump’s extraordinary overnight social media tirade against him, or he could tackle it head-on.

President Donald Trump has been clashing with Pope Leo XIV for weeks now in a rare and increasingly public dispute.