Pope Leo fires back at Trump — without mentioning his name

Pope Leo XIV leads a prayer vigil, ahead of Pentecost Sunday, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, June 7, 2025. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

Pope Leo XIV has publicly responded after President Donald Trump made baseless claims that the Chicago-born pontiff supports Iran's nuclear weapons program.

The tension between Trump and Pope Leo XIV, who is the first American-born pope, escalated when the pontiff criticized the administration's Iran war, calling the escalation of violence "unacceptable" and warning against the "delusion of omnipotence." Trump responded by calling Leo "weak on crime" and "terrible on foreign policy," drawing sharp criticism from Catholic leaders nationwide. The conflict intensified when Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ, which drew condemnation from Catholic bishops and evangelical leaders.

Vice President JD Vance further fueled tensions by suggesting the pope focus on morality rather than foreign policy, prompting Pope Leo to rebuke him directly. Despite the escalating rhetoric, Pope Leo has insisted he has "no interest at all" in debating the president, characterizing the controversy as a distraction from his pastoral duties.

Trump doubled down on his attacks on the pope on Monday, claiming that the pope believes Iran should have nuclear weapons.

Trump told Salem News Channel's Hugh Hewitt: "Well, the pope would rather talk about the fact that it's OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, and I don't think that's very good. I think he's endangering a lot of Catholics, and a lot of people, but I guess if it's up to the pope, he thinks it's just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon."

Leo responded in remarks transcribed by Vatican correspondent Michael Haynes: "I have already spoken from the first moment 'Peace be with you.' The mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace. If anyone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so truthfully. The Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, so there is no doubt about that."

The pope's comments served as a clear rebuke of the president, issued just days before Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit the Vatican.

Rubio will travel to Rome on Wednesday and is set to meet with the pope on Thursday morning. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement: "Secretary Rubio will meet with Holy See leadership to discuss the situation in the Middle East and mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere."

Trump has repeatedly claimed that the pope supports Iran's nuclear weapons program, pointing to the pontiff's calls for peace as proof.

Leo has specifically called for a world "free from the nuclear threat" and encouraged world leaders to take the "path of dialogue and diplomacy." At St. Peter's Basilica on April 12, he stated: "It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned, and deadly actions are decided."

Trump wrote on Truth Social: "I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon."

During Tuesday's press briefing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Trump's remarks about the pope. When a CNN reporter asked about the president's statement that the pope is endangering Catholics through his rhetoric around the Iran war, Rubio responded: "Well, I don't think that's an accurate description of what he said. I think what the president basically said is that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon because they would use it against places that have a lot of Catholics and Christians and others, for that matter."

Rubio added: "He went on to accuse Iran of 'holding the whole world hostage' with its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, adding that neither he nor the president can 'understand why anyone would think that it's a good idea for Iran to ever have a nuclear weapon.' What do you think they would do if they had a nuclear weapon? They would hold the world hostage with that nuclear weapon. That's what they would do."

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