During his Africa tour in Cameroon, Pope Leo condemned what he described as the massive global spending on war, arguing that resources are being diverted away from education, healthcare, and reconstruction. He warned that the world is suffering under leaders who prioritise destruction over peace, describing ongoing violence in parts of Africa and the Middle East as a “cycle of destabilisation and death.” The Pope also criticised the use of religion to justify conflict and said that peace must be embraced rather than invented, urging reconciliation in conflict-hit regions of Cameroon. His comments come shortly after a public exchange with US President Donald Trump, who has sharply criticised the Pope’s stance on foreign policy and the Iran conflict. Trump has defended US military pressure on Iran, while the Pope has repeatedly called for restraint and warned against war escalation. Despite tensions, the Pope said he would continue advocating for peace and rejected engaging directly in political disputes, reaffirming his focus on humanitarian concerns during his ongoing tour across Africa.