VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned world leaders who spend billions on weapons and war. He called them “tyrants” in a speech that followed days of tension with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The pope spoke during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square. He did not name any specific country or leader. But his remarks came after a public exchange with Trump over the Vatican’s position on military aid.
Earlier this week, Trump accused the pope of being “naive” about the need for strong military responses to global threats. The former president made the comments at a campaign rally in Florida. Vatican spokespeople declined to respond directly at the time.
In his address Wednesday, Francis said spending on war diverts resources from poverty, healthcare and education. He said leaders who prioritize arms over human needs act as tyrants, regardless of their formal titles.
The Vatican’s official summary of the pope’s remarks said Francis urged nations to redirect even a small portion of military budgets. He suggested using that money to feed the hungry and house the homeless. He cited data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute showing global military expenditure exceeded $2.4 trillion last year.
Pope Francis has criticized war spending before. He has repeatedly called for an end to the arms trade. But Wednesday’s language was more direct than in many past addresses. The directness came soon after the dispute with Trump.
The spat began when a reporter asked the pope about Trump’s pledge to increase U.S. defense spending. Francis responded that building weapons while children go hungry is a sin. Trump then called the pope’s views “disconnected from reality” in a post on his social media platform.
Diplomats in Rome said the pope’s use of the word “tyrants” is unusual for Vatican statements. The Holy See typically avoids labeling individual leaders, even when criticizing their policies.
Francis also noted that the world’s poorest countries spend more on debt payments than on education. Much of that debt comes from loans taken for military imports. He called for a global ceasefire and renewed peace talks in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan.
Several Catholic aid organizations supported the pope’s message. Caritas Internationalis issued a statement backing his call for reduced military budgets. The group said every dollar spent on war is a dollar stolen from the future.
Trump has not yet responded to Wednesday’s speech. His campaign spokesperson said the former president stands by his earlier comments. The spokesperson said Trump believes the U.S. must maintain military strength to prevent aggression.
The Vatican and the Trump administration had a tense relationship during his 2017-2021 presidency. They clashed over immigration, climate change and the death penalty. The current exchange suggests those tensions remain.
Francis, 89, has faced health challenges in recent months. He continues a busy schedule of public events. His focus on peace and disarmament remains a central theme of his papacy.