Pope Leo XIV delivered a terse and striking response when asked if he had a message for America.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday (May 12), the newly elected pontiff addressed the media and appeared to take a veiled swipe at President Donald Trump.
“The way we communicate is of fundamental importance,” Pope Leo said, reflecting on the Church’s relationship with modern media. “We must say ‘no’ to the war of words and images; we must reject the paradigm of war.”
He added: “Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism, and even hatred. Let us free it from aggression.
“We do not need loud, forceful communication, but rather communication that is capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice.”
His comments led many to interpret the “loud, forceful communication” remark as a subtle critique of Trump, known for his outspoken and often inflammatory presence on social media.
In a recent Truth Social post, Trump even claimed that his presidential campaign may have played a role in Pope Leo’s election.
After the conference, a reporter asked Pope Leo—who notably is the first American to become pope—whether he had a message specifically for the United States.
His response was brief and unexpected:
“Return to truth and grace.”
The five-word message, both simple and profound, has since sparked widespread discussion and speculation, especially given the current political climate.
Pope Leo is the first ever American to be elected as pope (Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
“Many,” he replied. “God bless you all.”
People have since reacted to the pope’s five-word statement online, as one person described his words as ‘menacing’, writing: “This is the most menacing thing I’ve seen a Pope say in my entire life.”
“You know it’s serious when even the Pope sounds like he’s got receipts and plans,” said another, while a third wrote: “This wasn’t a message this was a warning disguised as a blessing and I’m shook.”
“I’ve never heard two syllables sound more powerful and unsettling at the same time,” added someone else.
Some experts have forecast that the new pope will challenge Trump and his views.
UK theologian Professor Anna Rowlands said she thinks the pontiff will be able to avoid confrontation while also challenging them.
Speaking from Rome, she told the PA news agency: “I think he might have this way of being quite a disarming presence. He’s gentle, he’s thoughtful. He’s almost all the opposite characteristics to Trump.
“So if you think about somebody quiet and not boisterous, someone who thinks before they speak, someone who is centred.
Reports have suggested that the new pope is expected to challenge President Trump (ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
There’s a kind of serenity about him. And he’s very unassuming. He’s almost exactly the opposite human characteristics to Donald Trump, and that could work in an interesting way.”
“He’s unlikely to be confrontational, I think, because of his nature, and yet I think the content of what he says will be quite challenging,” Prof Rowlands went on to say of the pope’s eventual meeting with Trump.
“I think he won’t want to simply judge Donald Trump. I think he will genuinely want to engage in a fruitful dialogue towards genuine human good, a just peace, security in the world, a genuine orientation towards real values – those are the kind of things he will want to enter into dialogue with the US administration on.”
