STORY: Pope Leo said on Wednesday (April 15) that the world needs to hear a message of peace and coexistence, after U.S. President Donald Trump attacked him for a second time this week on social media.

Speaking on his flight from Algeria to Cameroon for the second leg of a whirlwind 10-day Africa tour, the first U.S. pontiff urged respect for all people and said his travels so far had shown the importance of pursuing dialogue between different communities.

"Although we have different beliefs, we have different ways of worshipping, we have different ways of living, we can live together in peace," said the pontiff, referring to his two days in mostly Muslim Algeria, where the Catholic Church is a small minority.

"To promote that kind of image is something which the world needs to hear today."

Trump, who attacked Leo as "terrible" on the eve of the pope's tour, doubled down in a social media post late on Tuesday, despite widespread backlash from U.S. Christians across the political spectrum.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Pope Leo, attacked again by Trump, says world needs message of peace

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM POPE LEO ON PLANE

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: IN AIR (APRIL 15, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) POPE LEO ARRIVING AND SAYING:

“Good morning, everyone. Hope you are all rested and ready for this next leg of our trip. Happy to greet you all this morning after what I personally consider has been a very blessed trip and visit to Algeria. And I want to begin by expressing a word of gratitude to all the authorities in Algeria who, made this visit possible."

2. CAMERAMAN FILMING

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) POPE LEO SAYING:

“So it was a special blessing for me personally to return once again to Annaba yesterday, but also to offer to the church and the world a vision that St. Augustine offers us in terms of that search for God and the struggle to build community, to seek for unity among all peoples and a respect for all peoples in spite of the differences. So in two days in Algeria I think we've really had a wonderful opportunity to, if you will, continue to build bridges, to promote dialogue. I think the visit to the mosque was significant and to say that although we have different beliefs, we have different ways of worshipping, we have different ways of living, we can live together in peace. And so I think that to promote that kind of image is something which the world needs to hear today, and that together we can continue to offer in our witness as we continue on this apostolic voyage. Have a wonderful trip. Good to see you all. Thank you for your service once again.“ /

4. POPE LEO LEAVING