President Trump, Pope Leo XIV at odds over Iran war
WASHINGTON DC -- President Trump and Pope Leo XIV at odds over the war in Iran. The president has voiced his opposition to remarks made by the Pope, in which the pontiff spoke out against the war, but never mentioned President Trump or the United States in that speech.
This is not something that has happened, on this level, in recent modern history. While arguments between religious and political leaders have taken place, what we are witnessing right now with President Trump and Pope Leo hasn't ever happened before.
Pope Leo the XIV spoke in Italian Saturday during a peace vigil at Vatican City, stating "enough of war" and warning of a "delusion of omnipotence" by those attacking Iran.
The president responding with a blistering Truth Social post, saying "I don't want a pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I'm doing exactly what I was elected, in a landslide, to do." He also posted an AI image of himself in a Christ-like pose, then deleted it.
"We don't like a Pope that's going to say that it's okay to have a nuclear weapon. We don't want a Pope that says crime is okay in our cities, I don't like it, I'm not a big fan of Pope Leo. He's a very liberal person, and he's a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime. He's a man that doesn't think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world," said President Trump.
The pontiff, aboard a plane heading to Algeria, responding to President Trump, and defending his actions as religious leader. "I have no fear of the Trump administration, nor speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel. That's what I believe in. I am called to do what the church is called to do," said Pope Leo.
The University of Notre Dame president Reverend Robert Dowd releasing a statement in support of the pontiff Monday, saying quote "Pope Leo XIV continues to proclaim the Gospel of Christ by upholding human dignity and serving as a tireless advocate for peace. His message transcends partisan political divisions in this or any country and I’m deeply grateful for Pope Leo’s inspiring example." The president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops also weighing in, saying "I am disheartened that the president chose such disparaging words about the Holy Father. Pope Leo is not his rival, nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls."
"This is unprecedented," said Southeastern Missouri professor Frank Lacopo.
Lacopo grew up in South Bend and specializes in the history of the Catholic Church, and while some may fear a political divide in the Catholic church, he says it could have the opposite effect, bringing the faithful together.
"I think it's something that you're already seeing, where Trump is confronting directly the head of the Catholic church, and Catholics across the political spectrum in the United States have a sense that they're unified in the papal office that ties everybody together, and even if they don't agree with the Pope's politics, and certainly, many people didn't agree with Francis' politics, Leo seems to be moving in the same direction on certain issues," said Lacopo.
The Pope also added to his comments, saying "I will continue to speak out loud against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue, multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems."