top line
President Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV and even took credit for his ascension to the top of the Roman Catholic Church in a Truth Social post Sunday night, escalating a dispute with the Vatican following the pope’s criticism of the war in Iran and the president’s threats to destroy civilian infrastructure.
Pope Leo XIV addresses the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
getty images
important facts
in his PostTrump described Leo as “weak on crime” and “terrible at foreign policy” and said he liked the Pope’s brother Lewis better than him because he is “all MAGA”.
Trump said he did not want a Pope who agreed with Iran having nuclear weapons, opposed U.S. military action in Venezuela and criticized the President of the United States.
The President then said Leo should be “grateful” and claimed, if he were not in the White House, “Leo would not be in the Vatican.”
Without any evidence, the president suggested that the Chicago native was chosen for the papacy because he was an American and the Vatican thought it would be “the best way to deal with Trump.”
Trump then accused Leo of “promoting the radical left” and trying to be a “politician” rather than a “great Pope.”
tangent line
In his post, Trump also attacked the Pope for meeting with David Axelrod, a former adviser to President Barack Obama, saying it did not go well for him. Axelrod was part of the “entourage” that met with Leo, a daily newspaper, on Thursday morning bulletin Shown as posted by the Vatican. It is not clear what was discussed in the meeting. The Pope and the former President are both natives of Chicago and are in a Podcast Appearance Earlier this year, Obama said that someone he has not yet met but is “looking forward to meeting” is “the new Pope who is from Chicago and a White Sox fan.” Obama said he expected the meeting to take place “at some point.”
main background
Trump’s unprecedented public attack against the Pope comes as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church has become one of the most prominent global critics of Trump’s war on Iran. Last month, soon after the US military operation began, Leo warned that the “cycle of violence” could become “an unbridgeable chasm”. preaching on Palm SundayThe Pope condemned the Trump administration’s use of the Bible to justify conflict, saying: “Jesus is the King of peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war… He does not hear the prayers of those who make war, but rejects them.” Last week, Trump posted that “the entire civilization will die tonight,” unless Iran agreed to his demands to end the conflict, and the Pope responded by saying the threat was “truly unacceptable” and adding that “all attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law.” Leo once again addressed the conflict during a Vatican mass on Saturday, saying, “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!” Without naming Trump, the Pope urged the countries’ leaders to “Wait! This is the time for peace.”
Further reading
Pentagon confirms it has met with Vatican amid growing criticism of Pope – but denies reports of any bitter clash (Forbes)
Pope Leo XIV says ‘enough of war’ in latest condemnation of US-Iran conflict (Forbes)
