The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) published an official statement on Monday (Apr. 13) in support of Pope Leo XIV, after he received criticism from US President Donald Trump.

The document serves as an institutional response in support of the pontiff’s stance on the escalation of armed conflicts in the Middle East. On Saturday (11), during a special prayer vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope called on world leaders to refrain from any “show of force” and to “sit down at the table of dialogue and mediation.”

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The CNBB noted in a statement that Pope Leo XIV’s authority is guided by “fidelity to the Gospel.” The Brazilian conference further maintains that Leo XIV continually works to defend human dignity and promote dialogue for conflict resolution. 

“The Pope’s spiritual and moral authority is not guided by the logic of political confrontation, but by fidelity to the Gospel, which continually raises its voice in defense of peace, human dignity, and dialogue among peoples,” the text reads.

The statement is signed by the leaders of the organization – CNBB President Cardinal Jaime Spengler; first and second vice presidents, Bishop João Justino de Medeiros and Bishop Paulo Jackson; and Secretary-General Bishop Ricardo Hoepers.

Trump

On Sunday (12), in a statement to the press, Trump described Pope Leo XIV as “weak on crime and terrible at foreign policy,” as well as “a very liberal person.” Leo XIV is the first US pope and assumed leadership of the Catholic Church in May 2025. 

The President of the US stated that he does not like the Pope’s stance on nuclear weapons.

“We don’t want a pope that says crime is OK in our cities. I don’t like it. I’m not a big fan of Pope Leo,” the president said.

The US president also posted a photo montage generated by artificial intelligence that depicts him as a divine figure healing a sick man. The post was made on Sunday (12) and deleted on Monday (13). 

On Monday morning, Pope Leo declared he was not afraid of the Trump administration or of proclaiming the Gospel message aloud. The statement came in response to questions from journalists who were with him aboard the papal plane during the first leg of his apostolic journey to the African continent.

Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro was discharged from the hospital on Friday morning (Mar. 27), according to a medical bulletin released by DF Star Hospital, where he had been hospitalized since March 13 to treat pneumonia.

Bolsonaro returned to his home in a gated community in Lago Sul, an upscale neighborhood in Brasília, where he will serve temporary house arrest authorized by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

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• Supreme court justice grants house arrest to Bolsonaro.
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The former president had been hospitalized since March 13 after falling ill at the Papuda Prison Complex.

At the time, he was taken by a medical team to hospital with a high fever, low oxygen saturation, sweating, and chills.

House arrest

Under house arrest, Bolsonaro will once again be monitored by an ankle tag. In November last year, before being convicted of the coup plot, the former president had been arrested after attempting to tamper with the device.

Agents from the Federal District Military Police will be responsible for securing the residence to prevent an escape. 

According to the ruling, house arrest has an initial term of 90 days. After this period, the measure will be reviewed by the presiding justice, who may request a new medical evaluation.

Jair Bolsonaro is serving a sentence of 27 years and three months for attempted coup d’état and other related crimes.