₦airaland Forum

Pope Leo warned that the world is being ravaged by “tyrants,” in forceful comments made after US President Donald Trump attacked the pontiff for his stance on the war with Iran.

Leo has emerged as strong critic of the conflict and his speech again preached a message of peace and rebuked leaders using religious language to justify war.

“The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters,” Leo said in a speech during a visit to Cameroon’s largest city, Bamenda, on Thursday.

Pope Leo XIV has strongly condemned the exploitation of religion for selfish military, political, and economic purposes.

The pontiff warned against the dangerous manipulation of God’s name amid a clash with United States President, Donald Trump, over the ongoing Iran war.

Speaking in Cameroon during his Apostolic Journey across Africa, the Pope said, “Jesus told us, 'Blessed are the peacemakers,' but woe to those who manipulate religion in the very name of God for their own military, economic, or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”

The remark comes against the backdrop of a deepening public rift between the Vatican and President Trump, triggered by disagreements over the United States’ role in the Iran war and broader questions of war and morality.

The pontiff has repeatedly criticised the use of religious justification for violence, warning that global leaders invoking faith to legitimise warfare are distorting sacred teachings.

His position aligns with his consistent calls for peace, dialogue, and multilateral solutions to global conflicts.

In March 2026, Pope Leo condemned attempts to use religion and God as justification for armed conflict, warning that God does not endorse war.

The Pope made the condemnation as he addressed tens of thousands of worshippers during Palm Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican City.

Delivering a message centred on peace amid the escalating global conflicts, the pontiff emphasised that God stands against violence and remains close to the oppressed.

His warning came particularly as the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran entered its second month.

Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” Leo said. “He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.”

The Pope’s remarks came at a time when leaders involved in the widening Middle East war increasingly invoked religion to defend military actions.

Notably, the U.S. Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, publicly framed the war effort in religious terms, portraying it as a struggle aligned with Christian values.


Similarly, the Russian Orthodox Church backed Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, describing it as a “holy war” against what it considers a morally declining Western world.

During his ongoing engagements in Africa, Pope Leo intensified his rhetoric, denouncing what he described as a world “ravaged by tyrants” and condemning leaders who prioritise war over human life and dignity.


Although he did not mention Trump directly in his remarks, President Trump had launched sustained verbal attacks on the pontiff, accusing him of bad leadership on crime, global security, and politics.

Trump branded Pope Leo a “weak on crime” and accused him of interfering in political matters after the pontiff openly opposed the Iran war and criticized threats of mass destruction.

Trump had, in a lengthy post shared on Truth Social, accused the Pope of undermining both American interests and the global standing of the Catholic Church.

Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, who made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during a pre-convocation media briefing, said a total of 24,575 students would be graduating during the ceremony.

He described the event as both a celebration of academic achievement and a reflection of the university’s evolving role in expanding access to education.

According to him, the graduating set comprises 17,474 undergraduates, 1,788 Postgraduate Diploma recipients, 5,282 Master’s degree holders, and 31 doctoral graduates.

“This year, the University will graduate 24,575 students, including 17,474 undergraduates, 1,788 Postgraduate Diploma holders, 5,282 Master’s graduates, and 31 doctoral recipients,” he said.

Providing further insight into the academic distribution, the Vice-Chancellor said the Faculty of Management Sciences produced the highest number of graduates with 7,455, followed by Social Sciences with 6,024, while Health Sciences accounted for 3,939 graduates.

He emphasised the growing inclusion of women in higher education, noting that female students make up over half of the undergraduate graduating class.

“At the undergraduate level, 10,180 out of 17,474 graduates are female… This is not merely a demographic detail – it is a philosophical milestone,” he stated.

The Vice-Chancellor also revealed that 56 inmates from correctional centres across the country are among the graduating students, adding that they are beneficiaries of the university’s free education policy for prison inmates.

“This initiative stands as one of the most profound expressions of our institutional philosophy.

“For what does it mean to educate those behind bars? It means we believe that no human being is beyond redemption. It means we affirm that knowledge can transform not only minds, but lives.

” It means we insist that dignity can be restored where it has been diminished. As African wisdom teaches us, ‘No matter how far the stream flows, it can still return to its source.’ In extending education to correctional centres, this University is not merely teaching – it is restoring hope, rebuilding identity, and reaffirming humanity,” he said.

Prof. Uduma explained that the convocation would be conducted simultaneously at the university’s national headquarters and across its study centres nationwide, in line with NOUN’s open and distance learning structure.

“The Convocation Ceremony proper will take place on Saturday, the 18th of April 2026… participation will occur both centrally and across study centres nationwide. This decentralised model… ensures that every graduate, regardless of location, is part of a shared moment of honour,” he said.

Uduma also announced a major administrative shift, noting that graduating students would receive their certificates immediately after the ceremony.

“This is not a small achievement. It represents a shift from bureaucratic delay to institutional efficiency,” he added.

Uduma, who described the convocation as his first since assuming office in February 2026, said the ceremony represents a bridge between continuity and renewal for the institution, adding that activities will begin with a lecture on April 17, to be delivered by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi (SAN).

“The Lecture will be Chaired by Professor Kabir Bala, a former Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The theme, ‘Nigeria Against Corruption,’ is both deliberate and necessary. It is a call to national introspection – a reminder that education must not only produce skilled individuals, but also ethical citizens,” the VC said.

Earlier, Director of Media and Publicity of the university, Ibrahim Sheme, in his remarks, described the briefing as the Vice-Chancellor’s first formal engagement with the media and commended journalists for their professionalism and continued support.

“We regard them as dependable allies in our communication efforts,” he said, urging sustained collaboration and access to information to enhance accurate reporting.

He stressed that convocation remains “a defining moment in the life of any university,” adding that expectations are high as this is the first ceremony under the current administration

"I am not going to change my mind. I am not going to yield. It is not in our national interest to join this war."

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced her government has suspended the automatic renewal of its defense agreement with Israel, citing ongoing Middle East conflicts. "The government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel," Meloni stated.

UK Member of Parliament Ed Davey has criticised President Trump, saying he is no “leader of the free world,” as protests grow over the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Davey also urged King Charles to cancel his planned state visit to Washington.

FatimaAbubakar:
Go and sleep. You don't deserve internet access.

“I think that the people who read will be able to draw their own conclusions: I am not a politician, I have no intention of entering into a debate with him. Rather, let us always seek peace and put an end to wars.

I am not afraid of the Trump administration. I speak about the Gospel, I am not a politician. I do not think the message of the Gospel should be abused in the way some people are doing. I will continue to speak out loudly against war, to try to promote peace, multilateral dialogue between states in order to seek the right solution to problems.

The message of the Church is the message of the Gospel, blessed are the peacemakers; I do not see my role as that of a politician, I do not want to enter into a debate with him. Too many people are suffering in the world.

Galactics:
Trump messed up here by comparing himself to Jesus.

MrEar:
Yeah, they are like trump, even worse than him sef. They go to Church every Sunday with a Bible in their hand and they don't understand a single scripture in that book.

That is why they openly and shamelessly support a peedoofile and blasphemer.

MrEar:
It is but lover boys of trump and netanyahu don't care.

President Donald Trump sparked controversy after sharing an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ on social media, following a sharp attack on Pope Leo XIV, whom he called “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.” The post comes amid escalating tensions between the two over the Iran conflict and immigration, drawing widespread reactions online.