The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has lashed out against Pope Leo XIV after his recent calls to curb the international military escalation, especially in Iran and Venezuela, assuring that his approach is “terrible in foreign policy”. The statements have opened a new front of tension between the White House and the Vatican.
From the papal plane en route to Algeria, Leo XIV has responded by defending that his stance is not political, but moral, and has stressed that “the Gospel is clear” and that the Church has the “moral obligation to go against war”. The pontiff has insisted that he has no “fear” of criticism and that he will continue to speak out on international conflicts.
Trump intensifies his attacks and questions the role of the pontiff
On his social network, Trump has urged the pope to “stop pleasing the radical left” and to “get his act together,” even questioning his election as pontiff due to his American nationality. The Republican leader maintains that Leo XIV “is harming the Catholic Church” by intervening in international affairs.
Furthermore, he has published an AI-generated photomontage in which he appears represented as a figure of messianic character, which has generated controversy on social media and among international analysts.
The pope asserts his moral role and rejects confrontation
Leo XIV has maintained that his messages do not seek to confront any government, but rather “to invite to build bridges of peace and reconciliation.” The pope has insisted that the mission of the Church is not international politics, but rather the defense of peace and mediation.
“I believe that the president is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is,” the pontiff has stated, who has regretted the criticisms but has reaffirmed his will to continue with his line.
Supports to the pope and global debate on the rise
From the Vatican environment, voices like that of the undersecretary of the Dicastery for Culture, Antonio Spadaro, have interpreted Trump's attacks as a sign of “unease” before a moral voice difficult to control. According to this reading, the clash evidences the tension between political power and spiritual authority.
In parallel, the pope has reiterated in various recent interventions his call to stop the global military escalation and to strengthen international diplomacy, in a context in which tensions between the United States and Iran are intensifying again.