Trump Unleashes Unprecedented Attack on Pope Leo XIV Over Iran War Stance

US President Donald Trump launched a blistering and historically anomalous attack on Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, accusing the leader of the Catholic Church of being "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy" in a feud ignited by the pontiff's criticism of the ongoing war with Iran. The exchange marks a rare and sharp deterioration in relations between the White House and the Vatican, two institutions that have typically maintained cordial channels even during periods of policy disagreement.

Trump's broadside came as he returned to Washington from Florida, first in a lengthy social media post and subsequently in remarks to reporters on the tarmac. "I'm not a fan of Pope Leo (XIV)," he stated directly. The president's criticism was prompted by the pope's weekend remarks suggesting that a "delusion of omnipotence" was driving the conflict with Iran. While theological and political tensions between popes and American presidents are not unprecedented, direct papal criticism of a sitting US leader is unusual, and Trump's scorched-earth response is effectively without modern parallel.

In his written post, Trump declared that Pope Leo XIV is "weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy," adding, "I don't want a pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon." He repeated the nuclear assertion to reporters, stating, "We don't like a pope who says it's OK to have a nuclear weapon." The president further suggested that the pontiff only ascended to his position "because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J Trump." He added, "If I wasn't in the White House, Leo (XIV) wouldn't be in the Vatican."

The pope responded on Monday while traveling aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria for his first visit to Africa. He stated he has "no fear of the Trump administration, or speaking out loudly" and has "no intention to debate" with the US president. "I am not a politician," Pope Leo XIV told reporters. "The message is the same: to promote peace." He added, "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 innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there's a better way."

Trump's criticism extended beyond the Iran war. He referenced the US operation that captured Nicolás Maduro in Caracas in January, writing, "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." He added, "I don't want a pope who criticises the president of the United States because I'm doing exactly what I was elected, in a landslide, to do." In his tarmac remarks, he said of the pope, "I don't think he's doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess," and described him as "a very liberal person."

The president also posted an image depicting himself in a biblical-style robe, laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers, with eagles, an American flag, and vaporous figures filling the sky above. Portraying oneself with the attributes of Jesus Christ is generally considered blasphemous under Catholic and broader Christian doctrine.

The diplomatic friction was preceded by media reports last week alleging that US officials had threatened the Holy See's envoy with an "Avignon Papacy," a reference to a fourteenth-century period when the French crown forcibly relocated the papacy to France. Washington and both diplomatic missions have rejected those reports as false.

Pope Leo XIV, who was born in Chicago, was elected in April 2025 following the death of Pope Francis. The conclave selected him after four ballots over two days, one of the shortest papal elections in modern history. He has outlined peace, justice, and truth as the pillars of Vatican diplomacy under his papacy. In a January speech, he denounced what he termed "diplomacy based on force," and in his Easter blessing he urged "those who have the power to unleash wars" to "choose peace." According to Catholic Church records, the last pope to explicitly call for and approve a war was Pope Urban II in 1095, when he launched the First Crusade.

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement saying he was "disheartened" by Trump's comments. "Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the pope a politician," Coakley said. "He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls."

In the 2024 election, Trump won 55 percent of Catholic voters, according to AP VoteCast. His administration maintains close ties to conservative evangelical Protestant leaders and has invoked divine endorsement for the Iran war. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Americans to pray for victory "in the name of Jesus Christ." Asked whether he believed God approved of the war, Trump replied, "I do, because God is good — because God is good and God wants to see people taken care of."