From taking on Trump to condemning war, a look back at Pope Leo’s first year as Catholic leader

WorldPolitics
6 May 2026 • 4:48 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

From taking on Trump to condemning war, a look back at Pope Leo’s first year as Catholic leader

  • Pope Leo marks his first anniversary leading the Catholic Church, having significantly elevated his public profile and intensified his schedule.
  • His increasingly vocal stance, including condemning war and despotism during a four-nation African tour, has drawn criticism from Donald Trump.
  • Leo previously criticised Trump's hard-line immigration policies and spoke out against the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, leading to insults from Trump.
  • The pontiff is expected to release his inaugural in-depth teaching document this month and undertake several trips, including a visit to Lampedusa, an island known for migrant arrivals.
  • Allies like Washington Cardinal Robert McElroy praise Pope Leo as a 'singular clarion voice' for peace and human dignity, applying the Gospel to human rights violations.

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