The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has publicly backed Pope Leo XIV amidst the open clash between the pontiff and the President of the United States, Donald Trump, over the war in Iran and Washington's foreign policy.
In a message published on the social network X, Sánchez has quoted the proverb “Who sows winds, reaps storms” to frame his position in the current international context. “While some sow the world with wars, León XIV sows peace, with bravery and courage”, has stated the head of the Executive.
The president has also added that it will be an “honor” to receive the pope in Spain within a few weeks, in a gesture of institutional support for the pontiff amid a full escalation of diplomatic tension with the White House.
Tension between the Vatican and Trump over the war and foreign policy
Sánchez's message arrives at a moment of strong public confrontation between Donald Trump and Leo XIV. The American president has harshly criticized the pontiff for his calls to stop the war in Iran and his positions on Venezuela, going so far as to describe his foreign policy as “terrible”.
Trump has accused the pope of “allowing himself to be influenced by the radical left” and has urged him to focus on his religious work. He has even disseminated a photomontage in which he represents himself with religious-type iconography.
The Pope responds: “The Church has the moral obligation to go against war”
From the flight that was taking him to Algeria, Leo XIV has responded to the criticisms defending the Vatican's role on the international stage. “The Gospel is clear”, he affirmed, emphasizing that the Church has the “moral obligation to go against war”.
The pontiff has assured he has no “fear” of political pressures and has insisted that his mission is “to build bridges of peace and reconciliation”, not to intervene in international politics from the logic of States.