President Trump says Pope needs to understand the reality of Iran’s nuclear threat
President Trump said it was not rude for Pope Leo to criticize the Iran war, but he needed to understand the importance of disarming Iran.
Pope Leo XIV said on April 18 that it is “not in my interest” to “discuss” President Donald Trump, as the public feud between the two presidents over the Iran war appears to be continuing.
Leo, the first American-born pope, told reporters that his speech in Cameroon, in which he condemned “tyrants” and those who “manipulate religion” for military and political gain, was actually written weeks ago and was not intended to respond to President Trump’s recent criticism. Reports of those comments are “inaccurate in every respect,” the Pope said.
“Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging what is sacred into darkness and filth,” Leo said on April 16, during a tour of four African countries, adding that the world was “ravaged by a handful of tyrants.”
“It just so happened that it looked as if I was trying to debate the president, which is not in my interest at all,” the pope said on April 18.
Although he did not mention President Trump or the Iran war by name in his remarks in Cameroon, Leo made it clear that he rejects the conflict caused by the United States and Israel. His outspoken comments about the war drew direct attacks from the president on social media. In response, Pope Leo XIV told Reuters earlier this week that he would continue to speak out about the war.
The altercation was an unusual public dispute between a pope and a U.S. president. President Trump’s comments have drawn widespread criticism from Catholics, including American conservatives.
In early April, the Pope directly criticized President Trump, calling the threat “unacceptable” if Iran did not comply by a deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz, threatening “the entire civilization to annihilate.”
In a lengthy social media post, President Trump said the Pope was “weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy.”
“I am not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loud the message of the Gospel. I believe that is what I am here for,” Pope Leo said on April 12, adding that his role is not political and that he is not interested in discussing Mr. Trump.
The exchange also involved President Trump posting an AI-generated religious image of himself in a Jesus-like role, sparking widespread backlash as well.
Contributed by: Reuters
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
