Pope Leo XIV issued a response to criticism from Donald Trump over his calls for an end to the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict.
Trump had previously criticized the Pope by suggesting that his comments about the war implied support for Iran having nuclear weapons. However, Pope Leo has now said he would continue to advocate for peace rather than remain silent in the face of criticism, emphasizing that doing so is both his calling and that of the Church.
Pope Leo Refuses To Back Down After Trump Attacks
Amid the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, the Pope has continued to call for an end to the conflict. That hasn’t sat well with Trump, who has on several occasions issued scathing remarks against the church leader, including on social media.
Now, Leo has responded to the criticism by vowing to continue preaching the Gospel and advocating for peace rather than cowering in fear of Trump’s power.
“The mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace,” the Pope said, per Reuters. “If someone wants to criticize me for preaching the Gospel… I hope simply to be listened to because of the value of God’s words.”
The pontiff’s comments came shortly before he met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican amid the growing tensions.
Donald Trump Called The Pope ‘Weak On Crime’
On one occasion, Trump described the Pope as “WEAK on crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy.”
At the time, the president also seemed to suggest that he was the reason Leo was elected pontiff, despite the position being decided through a secretive conclave in which the Catholic Church’s College of Cardinals elects a pope by a two-thirds majority vote.
Trump claimed that those who voted for Leo “thought that would be the best way to deal with” him, adding that if he wasn’t “in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
Trump Also Claimed That Pope Leo Wants Iran To Have Nuclear Weapons
At the center of tensions is the U.S. position that Iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, as it believes the country cannot be trusted with such a weapon of mass destruction.
This point has also been used in Trump’s criticism of the Pope, as he recently told conservative radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt that Leo “thinks it’s fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
He added that such a stance from the church leader meant he was “endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people.”
However, at the moment, the Pope has not said he supports Iran having a nuclear weapon. Instead, he has repeatedly called for an end to the war and urged peace and diplomacy.
Trump Criticized For His Comments Against Pope Leo
The ongoing back-and-forth between Trump and the Pope has prompted several high-profile figures to side with the pontiff and push back against the U.S. president’s remarks.
Among them was Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who said Trump was wrong to criticize the Pope over his repeated calls for an end to the war.
“The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn every form of war,” Meloni said, per the BBC.
Peter Wolfgang, a prominent voice on the U.S. Catholic right, also weighed in on the controversy, warning of the political implications of Trump’s attacks on the pontiff.
“Attacks on him are received as attacks on the Church itself. The more he attacks the Pope, the more his support will drop among his Catholic voters,” Wolfgang told the outlet.
US Ambassador Has Played Down The Feud
Despite the apparent tension between Trump and the Pope, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See does not believe there is any “deep rift” between the United States and the Vatican.
“Nations have disagreements, and I think one of the ways that you work through those is… through fraternity and authentic dialogue,” Burch said during a press interview earlier this week.
He also suggested that Rubio’s meetings in Italy could allow both sides to “talk through” any differences. However, the Secretary has since denied that his Vatican visit was specifically intended for that purpose.