Pope Leo feud with Trump overshadows his non secular homecoming

The pope arrived in Algeria on Monday, the primary go to to the nation by a sitting pontiff.

On Wednesday he was flying to Cameroon, the place separatists introduced a three-day pause in lethal violence to permit Leo secure passage to a “peace assembly” Thursday.

From Cameroon, he’ll go on to Angola and Equatorial Guinea.

The Algerian leg was a non secular homecoming.

Leo is a member of the Order of St. Augustine, which was based on the teachings of the Fifth-century saint who lived and studied within the Roman metropolis of Hippo, now modern-day Annaba.

Leo took a pilgrimage to these ruins Tuesday, arriving throughout a rainstorm with sharpshooters protecting the traditional flagstones and colonnades. He prayed in a tent overlooking its theater, market and basilica the place Augustine preached. And he planted an olive tree and watched as white doves have been launched.

This was meant to be a deeply private, “very particular journey” for the pontiff, as he put it aboard his papal airplane whereas en path to Algeria.

After being chosen on the Vatican Conclave final Could, he declared himself a “son of St. Augustine” and he has visited this pilgrimage website twice earlier than, whereas he was superior of the Augustinian order.

The saint “was a bridge of interreligious dialogue, so we should proceed to construct bridges and reconciliation for all folks,” the pope stated whereas within the air. He stated the go to to Augustine’s hometown was purported to be his first as pontiff, however different journeys intervened.

Regardless of this deeply private storyline, a lot of the main target this week has remained on Trump’s insults — and the pope declining to again down.

When Trump threatened that Iran’s “entire civilization will die tonight” if it didn’t conform to his peace phrases, Leo labeled that “really unacceptable.” The president then known as the pope “WEAK on crime” and “horrible for Overseas Coverage,” earlier than posting an image showing to indicate himself with Christ-like powers, which he later deleted.

The remarks and picture precipitated uproar.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a uncommon rebuke of her erstwhile ally, calling Trump’s remarks “unacceptable.” And Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Convention of Catholic Bishops, stated he was “disheartened.”

Requested for remark, the White Home referred to public statements issued by Trump, who has refused to apologize.

“We imagine strongly in legislation and order, and he appeared to have an issue with that, so there’s nothing to apologize for,” Trump stated Monday.

A day later he posted, “Can somebody please inform Pope Leo that Iran has killed” hundreds of protesters, “and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is totally unacceptable.”