Trump Attacks Pope Leo XIV as Weak on Crime and Foreign Policy Amid Iran War Clash
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Trump Attacks Pope Leo XIV as Weak on Crime and Foreign Policy Amid Iran War Clash

13 April, 2026.USA.53 sources

Key Takeaways

  • Trump attacked the pope, calling him weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy.
  • The pope said he has no fear of Trump and will continue denouncing war.
  • The dispute centers on Iran war policies, triggering international reactions and Catholic leadership defense.

Trump's Unprecedented Attack

President Trump launched an extraordinary public attack on Pope Leo XIV, calling him WEAK on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy.

The confrontation erupted after the Pope condemned the delirium of omnipotence fueling the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

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Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself healing a sick person in the likeness of Jesus Christ.

He insisted he did not want a pope who criticizes the president because he was doing exactly what I was elected to do by an overwhelming majority.

The attack marked a historic low in America's ties with the Roman Catholic Church.

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley said, Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician.

The Pope's Peace Message

Pope Leo XIV presided over a Prayer Vigil for Peace at St. Peter's Basilica.

The Pope's peace message was rooted in the Gospel, not politics.

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ACI AfricaACI Africa

He pushed back against Trump's criticism, saying he had no fear of the Trump administration.

The Vatican's calls for peace came as the U.S. and Iran were meeting face-to-face in Pakistan.

The Pope also denounced Trump's military adventure in Venezuela.

Trump responded by saying he did not want a pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.

Trump's Personal Attacks

He praised the Pope's brother Louis as all MAGA.

Trump took credit for the Pope's election, saying if I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.

The Pope's brother Louis Prevost lives in Florida and has embraced right-wing conspiracy theories.

Trump also attacked the Pope for criticizing him over the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The confrontation deepened just as the administration’s diplomacy with Iran faltered.

Historical Context and Reactions

The clash marked a rare and highly visible disagreement between the White House and the Vatican.

The Federal traced historical instances of tension between American presidents and popes.

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Al-Masry Al-YoumAl-Masry Al-Youm

Religious leaders responded with rebukes.

The confrontation highlighted a growing divide between moral diplomacy and realpolitik.

The Pope appeared unfazed by Trump's criticism.

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