Inside The Vatican
Inside The Vatican
America Media
‘Don’t Take the Bait’: A Roundtable on Trump’s Pope Comments
23 minutes Posted Apr 17, 2026 at 4:00 am.
Intro
Pope Leo in Algeria
Pope Leo in Cameroon
President Trump's words for Pope Leo
Pope Leo's criticism of war
Pope Leo's response to Trump
U.S. Bishops respond to Trump
Reactions to Trump's tirade
Did Trump influence Leo's election?
Don't take the President's bait
Impact on U.S.-Vatican relation
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Show notes
This week on “Inside the Vatican,” America Editor-in-Chief Fr. Sam Sawyer, SJ, joins Vatican Correspondent Colleen Dulle and Executive Editor Ashley McKinless for a roundtable discussion on the recent comments President Trump and other administration officials have made about Pope Leo, and the pope’s response given en route to his tour of four African countries.
In the first part of the show, Colleen gives an update on the papal journey across Africa.
Links:
Interview: What Pope Leo’s visit means for Algeria’s tiny Catholic population
Pope Leo’s first trip to Africa: what you need to know
Pope Leo in Algeria: ‘The future belongs to men and women of peace’
Pope Leo walks in the footsteps of St. Augustine in Hippo
Pope Leo on plane to Cameroon: St. Augustine invites us to search for God and truth
Pope Leo to Cameroon’s leaders: Break the ‘chains of corruption,’ invest in young people
Trump is trying to distract us from Pope Leo’s calls for peace. Don’t take the bait.
South Africa’s Cardinal Brislin: Trump cannot silence Pope Leo or the church
US bishops’ doctrine chair defends church’s just war tradition after JD Vance comments
Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome 
Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle 
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