Last week, Pope Leo XIV said that Donald Trump’s actions in Iran were “provoking more hatred” and warned that striking civilian infrastructure could violate international law. Now, the president has responded with a forceful counter‑statement.
Pope Leo has been outspoken in his opposition to the war in Iran, particularly regarding President Trump’s decisions. During a prayer service at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, he condemned what he described as a “delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive.”
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life,” he said.
Just days earlier, Pope Leo had urged Trump and other world leaders involved in the conflict to step back.
“I would simply say, once again, what I said in the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message on Sunday: asking all people of goodwill to search, always, for peace and not violence; to reject war, especially a war which many people have said is an unjust war, which is continuing to escalate and which is not resolving anything,” the American‑born pope said.
Pope Leo criticizes Trump over Iran
He added that the situation in the Middle East was “only provoking more hatred,” calling on leaders to “come back to the table” to pursue a peaceful resolution. He also reminded President Trump that targeting civilian infrastructure would violate international law.
“Let’s remember especially the innocent children, the elderly, the sick — so many people who have already become or will become victims of this continued warfare,” Pope Leo said, urging citizens worldwide to contact their political leaders and “tell them to work for peace and to reject war.”
Trump fires back at Pope Leo
President Trump has now issued his response. On social media, he criticized Pope Leo’s comments on the Iran conflict, calling the Catholic leader “weak” on crime and “terrible” on foreign policy.
“I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He also claimed that Pope Leo would not have become pope without him.
“Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise,” Trump added. “He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”
