New Delhi, April 20 -- US Vice President JD Vance has said he is "grateful" after Pope Leo XIV moved to defuse tensions with President Donald Trump, following days of public back-and-forth between the Vatican and the White House over remarks linked to the Iran conflict.

Pope Leo said on Saturday that he had no interest in a public dispute with the US administration.

"It is not in my interest at all to debate the president," he said, adding that his focus remains on "peace, justice and brotherhood."

He also noted: "Much of what has been written since then has been commentary on commentary trying to interpret what has been said."

Pope Leo XIV said on Saturday that media coverage of his recent Africa visit had created "a certain narrativ...