World “being ravaged by handful of tyrants,” says Pope Leo days after spat with Trump
Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has criticised global leaders stating that the world is “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants” during his visit to Cameroon, BBC reported.
His remarks came amid an ongoing spat with Donald Trump following a recent exchange of criticism.
During his visit to a region in the central African country affected by insurgency, the Pope spoke against leaders who, according to him, misuse religion for personal or political purposes.
He also criticised the large spending on wars, saying leaders “turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found”.
He further said, “the masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild.”
Speaking in the north-western city of Bamenda, which has been affected by violence for nearly a decade, the Pope described the situation as “an endless cycle of destabilisation and death” in a “bloodstained” region.
Addressing people gathered at a cathedral, he said, “those who rob your land of its resources generally invest much of the profit in weapons, thus perpetuating an endless cycle of destabilisation and death.”
He also spoke about the need for peace, stating, “peace is not something we must invent: it is something we must embrace by accepting our neighbour as a brother and as our sister.”
The comments come days after a public disagreement between the Pope and Donald Trump. The Pope had earlier expressed concern over Trump’s warning that “a whole civilisation will die” if Iran did not accept US demands related to the war and the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump responded by criticising the Pope on social media, writing, “Leo should get his act together as Pope.”
In another post, he described the Pope as “weak on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy,” while also sharing content portraying himself in a religious context. The now deleted post included Trump depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure. The post trigerred backlash.
He later continued his criticism and did not apologise.
Responding to questions about Trump’s remarks during his visit, the Pope said he had “no fear” of the US administration and would continue to speak against war. He also said earlier that he did not want to engage in a direct debate with Trump but would continue promoting peace.
The differences between the Pope and the US administration have also been visible in their positions on the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
During a Palm Sunday Mass at St Peter's Square, the Pope described the conflict as “atrocious” and said, “this is our God: Jesus, king of peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war.”
He added, “he does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” He also quoted a passage from the Bible, saying, “even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.”
The Pope’s Africa tour includes visits to multiple cities across four countries and is his second major international trip since becoming Pope last year.
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Modi, Kharge congratulate Harivansh on being elected as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Harivansh on being elected as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman for the third time.
Harivansh, a nominated member of the House, was elected unopposed.
Congress President and Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge also congratulated Harivansh.
Speaking in the Upper House, Prime Minister Modi said that being elected for the third time in a row as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is, in itself, a profound expression of the trust that the House has in Harivansh.
Modi said the House has benefited greatly from Harivansh's experience in the past, and the efforts he has made to take everyone along.
"This is a tribute to his experience and an intuitive work style," the prime minister said.
Modi also said that Harivansh, who has been a journalist earlier, has held high standards of journalism. He further said that Harivansh has spent his MP LAD (local area development) funds for research projects at various universities.
The prime minister also lauded the contribution of Harivansh in instilling confidence among the younger generation in achieving the goal of a developed India.
Kharge expressed hope that the Deputy Chairman will take care of the opposition and give them adequate time in the House.
The Congress leader further said he was pained by the fact that the post of Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha has been vacant since 2019, which is contrary to the spirit of the Constitution.
Earlier, the Samajwadi Party and TMC staged a walkout when the motion to elect Harivansh was being adopted.
