Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned US President Donald Trump’s attack on Pope Leo XIV “on behalf of the great nation of Iran.” He added that the desecration of “Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood,” is not acceptable to “any free person.”
His remarks come after Trump unleashed criticism at the Pontiff. Trump’s outburst appeared to be triggered by recent remarks from Pope Leo critical of the US-Israel war on Iran.
In a post on social media, Trump called Pope Leo“weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.” He said that he does not “want a Pope who criticises the President of the United States.”
Last week, Leo had issued a rare direct rebuke of Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilisation, calling it “truly unacceptable.” And then, on Sunday, the 70-year-old Pontiff implored leaders to end ongoing bloodshed, condemning what he described as a “delusion of omnipotence” fuelling war; comments that appeared directed at Trump.
Both Trump and Pete Hegseth, his Defence Secretary, have invoked God and religious language in public messaging during the conflict. Hegseth has even framed the war effort as divinely supported, a sentiment that the Pope has repeatedly refuted. “Jesus is the king of peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” he said on Palm Sunday, adding that Jesus “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them.”
Taking to Truth Social, Trump noted, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.”
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela.a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country. Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.”
Donald Trump
Trump also claimed credit for Leo’s leadership in the Catholic Church, suggesting that the Vatican picked the first US-born pontiff, elected last year, to gain favour with the White House with the White House. “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” Trump said.
Pushing back against United States President Donald Trump’s broadside, Pope Leo XIV said that the Vatican’s appeals for peace and reconciliation are rooted in the Gospel, and that he did not fear the Trump administration. “I don’t want to get into a debate with him,” Leo said today on board the papal flight to Algiers, where the first US-born pope is starting a 11-day tour to four African countries.
Pope Leo Defends Stance
Pope Leo XIV hfurther defended his position of seeking peace, after US president Donald Trump criticised him for “catering to the Radical Left.” “I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the church is here to do,” the Pontiff said.“
“We are not politicians. We are not looking to make foreign policy … with the same perspective that he might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ is the message that the world needs to hear today.”
Pope Leo
Pope Leo added that he did not intend to engage in a political dispute. “I do not look at my role as being political, a politician,” the Pope said.
“I don’t want to get into debate with him. I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing. The message of the Church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Pope Leo
The Pontiff asserted in his speech to reporters o n the way to Algiers, that he will continue to criticize war.
“I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the States to look for just solutions to problems. Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed.”
Pope Leo
He added that he thinks someone has to “stand up and say there’s a better way.”
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