Former President Donald Trump publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV on April 12, 2026, calling him “weak on crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy” in a lengthy social media post. Trump’s remarks came after the pope repeatedly condemned war and urged peaceful resolution in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Trump’s statement accused Pope Leo of supporting Iran retaining its nuclear program and opposing U.S. actions against Venezuela, which Trump described as a drug trafficking source and a sender of dangerous criminals into the United States. Trump wrote, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” and expressed disapproval of the pope’s views on American military interventions.
Pope Leo XIV, in recent weeks, has strongly criticized the prospect of war and violence. During a prayer vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica on April 10, he urged leaders to forgo displays of force and called for dialogue and mediation instead of rearmament and death. Without mentioning Trump by name, the pope condemned threats to destroy Iranian civilization as “truly unacceptable” and encouraged people to appeal to political leaders to pursue peace.
In social media posts and sermons, the pope emphasized that “God does not bless any conflict” and that followers of Christ, “the Prince of Peace,” should reject warfare. In a Palm Sunday homily earlier this month, Pope Leo appeared to criticize U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by stating that Jesus “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.”
Trump further claimed that Pope Leo was only elected because he was American, implying the Church chose him as a counterbalance to Trump’s presidency. He expressed frustration that the pope criticizes the U.S. president and urged him to stop “catering to the Radical Left” and focus on spiritual duties instead of politics.
After returning to Washington, D.C. on Sunday night, Trump reiterated his criticism to reporters, calling the pope “a very liberal person” who supports crime and nuclear weapons. He said, “We don’t like a pope who says it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon.”
Why it matters
Trump’s public denunciation of Pope Leo XIV highlights deep divisions between the former U.S. president’s hardline foreign policy positions and the Vatican’s calls for peace and diplomacy, especially regarding the crisis in Iran. The clash underscores ongoing tensions over moral and political leadership amid global conflicts.
Background
Pope Leo XIV has consistently urged global leaders to seek peaceful solutions to conflicts and condemned violence as antithetical to Christian teachings. His vocal opposition to war includes criticism of military actions taken by the U.S. and its allies. Conversely, Trump’s administration favored aggressive measures, including threats of annihilation against Iran and interventions in Venezuela, causing friction between the secular and religious stances on foreign policy.
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