President Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV in a lengthy social media post Sunday night, calling the pope “WEAK on Crime, and bad on foreign policy.”
Leo has been critical of the Iran war and has made statements in the past opposing other priorities of the Trump administration, such as a continued crackdown on illegal immigration.
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s right Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s bad that the United States attacked Venezuela, a country that used to send a lot of drugs to the United States and, worse, empty their prisons, including murderers, drug traffickers and murderers, in our country,” wrote Mr.
The speech of Mr. Trump criticizing the Pope appeared after a while “60 Minutes” aired the story discussing the pope’s statements and impact three American cardinals they don’t know him well. Mr. Trump later confirmed to CBS News correspondent Norah O’Donnell that he was watching the showand that he believes the pope is “wrong about things.”
Leo previously called the threat of Mr. Totally Trump to destroy Iranian civilization “It’s really unacceptable,” and he encouraged people to “contact the authorities – political leaders, congressmen – to ask them, tell them to work for peace and reject war, always.”
Pope Leo spoke about the recent comments of Mr Monday on a flight to Algeria to begin an 11-day trip to Africa.
“The things I say are certainly not intended to attack anyone, and the message of the Gospel is very clear: ‘Blessed are the peaceful,'” said the pope.
He continued, “I will not hesitate to announce the message of the Gospel, to invite all people to look for ways to build bridges of peace and reconciliation, to look for ways to avoid war whenever possible. To put my message on the same plane as what the president tried to do here, I think … I don’t understand what the message of the Gospel is, and I’m sorry.
“But I will continue what I believe is the work of the church in the world.”
He also said, “I’m not afraid of Trump’s administration, or speaking out loud about the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I’m here to do, what the church is here to do. We’re not politicians, we don’t approach foreign policy from the same perspective that he may understand, but I believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker.”
Elisabetta Trevisan, Vatican Media via Vatican Pool / Getty Images
Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, was asked about the controversy in an interview with Fox News on Monday evening. Vance said that “it’s not a big deal” that there are sometimes disagreements between US political leaders and the Vatican, and that “it’s a good thing that the pope is promoting things that he cares about.” However, when pushed, he said that “in some cases, it would be better for the Vatican to stick to moral issues, to the Catholic Church, and let the president stick to deciding the law.”
During the prayer for peace in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, while not calling out Mr Trump by name, Pope Leo spoke directly, saying: “Enough with the idolatry of self and money! Enough with the show of power! Enough with the war! True power is seen in the service of life.”
He also called for an end to the war through negotiations, saying, “Certainly, the leaders of the nations have binding obligations. We shout to them: Stop! This is the time for peace! Sit at the tables of negotiation and mediation, not at the tables where weapons are rearranged and death is discussed!”
The Pope also condemned Friday’s war in a post on social media, writing, “God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Lord of peace, has never been on the side of those who once carried the sword and today drop bombs.”
And in a Palm Sunday interview last month, Leo also appeared to criticize Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s speech, saying Jesus “doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who fight in war.”
Mr. Trump said on Sunday that Leo would not be elected pope if it weren’t for him, writing that “he was only put there by the Church because he was American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”
“I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States,” wrote Mr.
“Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop feeding the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It hurts him a lot and, more importantly, it hurts the Catholic Church!” said the president.
Mr. Trump repeated many of his comments to reporters Sunday night after arriving in Washington, DC, saying, “We don’t like the pope who says it’s okay to have a nuclear weapon.”
“I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime, I think,” said Mr. Trump, adding, “He’s a very liberal person.”
Democrats blasted the president’s comments, as Speaker of the House Hakeem Jeffries wrote: “Donald Trump has shamefully attacked His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. People of faith will never serve a wanted King. We serve GOD Almighty.”
