Since becoming pope, Leo has largely kept his distance from the news media. But in an unusual interaction late Tuesday outside his Castel Gandolfo residence in Italy, the pontiff fielded several questions from reporters, including one about the extraordinary, hastily convened meeting of senior military leaders in the United States that day, at which Trump and Hegseth gave highly partisan speeches. Leo shook his head in apparent distaste.

“This way of speaking is concerning, because it shows, every time, an increase of tension,” Leo said in Italian. “This wording, like going from minister of defense to minister of war. Let’s hope it’s just a figure of speech. Of course, there you have a style of governance meaning to show strength, so as to pile up pressure. Let’s hope this works and that there isn’t war. One always needs to work toward peace.”

Switching to English, the pontiff said while he was “not terribly familiar with the particular case,” it was “very important to look at the overall work a senator has done during, if I am not mistaken, 40 years of service in the United States Senate.” Durbin has served more than 40 years in Congress, 28 as a senator. He is retiring from the Senate after his current term ends in January 2027.

Leo — who was born in Illinois and became a priest in 1982 before working as a missionary in Peru and rising to become bishop of Chiclayo — said it is important to look at “many issues” regarding the teaching of the church.