In an escalating clash between political and religious authority, President Trump took aim at Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, unleashing criticism of the Catholic Church's leader through posts on Truth Social. The outburst marks another chapter in Trump's contentious history with the Vatican, following similar tensions during his previous dealings with Pope Francis.
Trump's attack appears to have been triggered by the 70-year-old pontiff's recent condemnation of US-Iran hostilities. Last week, Pope Leo issued an unprecedented direct rebuke of Trump's threat to obliterate Iranian civilization, calling it "truly unacceptable." On Sunday, the pope renewed his plea for global leaders to cease military conflict, warning against what he termed a "delusion of omnipotence" driving modern warfare—comments observers widely interpreted as directed at Trump's administration.
"I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon," Trump wrote, demanding that Leo "get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left." The president also claimed personal credit for Leo's historic election as the first US-born pontiff, stating: "If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican." When pressed on the criticism hours later, Trump doubled down, claiming the pope "likes crime" and is "a very liberal person."
The pontiff's critiques extend beyond military matters. Pope Leo has previously questioned the Trump administration's restrictive immigration policies, suggesting they contradict pro-life principles. This ongoing friction highlights the growing divide between the Vatican's emphasis on humanitarian concerns and the Trump administration's hawkish foreign policy stance. The pope is scheduled to begin an 11-day African tour on Monday, including a significant visit to Muslim-majority Algeria.
Trump's papal feuds are not new. His relationship with Pope Francis deteriorated over immigration policy debates during Trump's first presidential campaign, with Francis questioning whether Trump embodied Christian values and Trump dismissing the previous pontiff as "disgraceful."
Originally reported by Al Jazeera English. Rewritten for ABN12.