Trump Accuses Pope Leo XIV of Endangering Catholics Ahead of Rubio’s Vatican Meeting

President Donald Trump accused Pope Leo XIV of “endangering” Catholics as Secretary of State Marco Rubio prepared to meet the pontiff at the Vatican, with the dispute centered on Trump’s view of the pope’s stance on Iran and the nuclear issue.

“United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has pushed back on comments that President Donald Trump accused Pope Leo XIV of “endangering Catholics” over his stance on the Iran war, saying his early remarks had been mischaracterised”

Al Jazeera

In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump said, “I think ⁠he's endangering a lot of Catholics and ‌a lot of people,” and added, “But I guess it's up to the Pope. He thinks it's just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

Al Jazeera

The Time Magazine account says Pope Leo has not expressed support for Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon, but has been “a vocal critic ofTrump’s war in Iran,” which Trump frames as preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

The Washington Post similarly describes Trump’s criticism ahead of Rubio’s Rome trip, saying Trump suggested the pontiff’s views on foreign policy are “endangering Catholics and a lot of people” and that he is “fine” with Iran having a nuclear weapon.

AP reports that Trump renewed his criticism in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, saying the pope is helping Iran and making the world less safe with comments about immigrants, and Trump said, “The pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

AP also notes the pope “has not said Iran should obtain nuclear weapons,” and instead has called for more peace talks and criticized war with Iran generally and Trump’s specific threats of mass civilian strikes.

In response, Pope Leo told reporters, “The mission of the church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace,” and said, “If someone wants to criticize me for announcing the Gospel, let him do it with the truth.”

Rubio’s Vatican schedule is described as a key moment in the dispute, with multiple outlets tying the meeting to a specific date and location at the Apostolic Palace.

Time Magazine says the Vatican confirmed that Rubio will meet Pope Leo on May 7 at the Apostolic Palace, and that the visit coincides with the first anniversary of Leo’s papacy on May 8.

America Magazine

BBC likewise reports that Rubio is heading to the Vatican for a two-day visit this week, and it quotes the State Department saying Rubio would work to “advance bilateral relations” with Italy and the Vatican and discuss “the situation in the Middle East and mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere.”

Politico reports Rubio dismissed the idea that his trip is aimed at smoothing over relations, saying, “The trip is really not tied to anything other than the fact that it would be normal for us to engage, and other secretaries of State have done that in the past.”

France 24 similarly frames Rubio’s posture as downplaying the criticism, quoting Rubio: “It’s a trip we had planned from before, and obviously we had some stuff that happened,” and adding, “There’s a lot to talk about with the Vatican.”

AP says Trump’s renewed criticism could complicate a “fence-mending visit” Rubio plans to make this week to the Vatican, while also noting Rubio is expected to see the pontiff on Thursday.

RaiNews and Virgilio both describe the meeting as coming shortly before or on Thursday, with Virgilio stating, “On Thursday, May 7, the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected at the Vatican.”

In the same period, Time Magazine says U.S. ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch expects “frank” discussions and tells journalists, “I think the Secretary is coming here in that spirit,” and “To have a ⁠frank conversation about U.S. policy, to engage in dialogue.”

Rubio’s public response to Trump’s accusations is presented as a defense of the administration’s position on Iran’s nuclear program, while also disputing the characterization that the pope is “endangering” Catholics.

“Trump again assails Pope Leo, potentially complicating Rubio’s visit to the Vatican this week Trump again assails Pope Leo, potentially complicating Rubio’s visit to the Vatican this week WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has renewed his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, potentially complicating a fence-mending visit that Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to make this week to the Vatican”

AP News

AP reports Rubio said Trump’s recent criticisms were rooted in his opposition to Iran potentially obtaining a nuclear weapon, which Rubio said could be used against millions of Catholics and other Christians, and Rubio told reporters, “Trump ‘doesn’t understand why anybody — leave aside the pope — the president and I, for that matter, I think most people, I cannot understand why anyone would think that it’s a good idea for Iran to ever have a nuclear weapon.”

The Daily Beast similarly describes Rubio arguing that Trump’s description was inaccurate, quoting Rubio’s insistence, “I don’t think that’s an accurate description of what he said,” and adding, “I think what the president basically said is that Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon because they would use it against places that have a lot of Catholics and Christians and others, for that matter.”

Al Jazeera reports Rubio pushed back as well, saying, “Well, I don’t think that’s an accurate description of what he said,” and it quotes Rubio’s explanation that Trump’s concern was rooted in the threat Iran could pose to “places that have a lot of Catholics and Christians and others.”

Politico adds that Rubio told reporters Trump’s point was about preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, saying, “I think the president’s point is, how anyone cannot see that as an unacceptable outcome and an unacceptable risk is beyond him.”

PBS/Associated Press coverage ties Rubio’s broader diplomatic messaging to the Strait of Hormuz, quoting Rubio saying “Operation Epic Fury” is concluded and that “We would prefer the path of peace,” while also stating, “There's no shooting unless we're shot at first, OK? We're not attacking them.”

In that same PBS/Associated Press account, Rubio says Iran must agree to Trump’s demands on its nuclear program and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and he argues that Iran’s actions about advanced centrifuge technology, enrichment of uranium, and underground bunkers show it is not serious about its no-nukes pledge.

The dispute also includes Rubio’s framing of the pope’s stance, with AP saying the pope “has not said Iran should obtain nuclear weapons,” and that he has called for peace and dialogue in the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.

Pope Leo’s responses to Trump’s attacks are portrayed across outlets as emphasizing the Church’s mission to preach peace and the Gospel, while also rejecting the idea that he supports nuclear weapons.

AP reports that speaking to reporters Tuesday, the pope said the Catholic Church “for years has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt there,” and it quotes him doubling down on his insistence that his call for peace and dialogue in the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran is biblically inspired.

Asharq Al-Awsat English

AP also quotes the pope saying, “The mission of the church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace. If someone wants to criticize me for announcing the Gospel, let him do it with the truth,” and it notes the pope responded to Trump’s latest criticism by calling out misrepresentation of his views.

BBC similarly frames the pope’s stance, quoting him: “The mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace,” and “If someone wants to criticise me for preaching the Gospel... I hope simply to be listened to because of the value of God's words.”

Virgilio provides a more pointed formulation in its account of Pope Leo XIV’s reply, quoting the pontiff: “If anyone wants to criticize me for preaching the Gospel, let them do so with the truth,” and stating, “The mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace.”

RaiNews also reports the pope’s message in Italian, including “Annuncio la pace, chi vuole mi critichi,” and it includes a statement attributed to the pope that he is announcing peace and that those who want to criticize him should do so with the truth.

Vatican officials are also quoted as trying to keep the focus on peace and dialogue; RaiNews quotes Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin saying, “Linea del Pontefice è predicare pace,” and Parolin telling journalists, “Il Papa ha già risposto, io non aggiungerei nulla, ha dato una risposta molto cristiana diciamo, dicendo che lui sta facendo quello che il suo ruolo esige, e cioe' di predicare la pace”.

Time Magazine adds that U.S. ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch expects “frank” discussions and says, “Nations have disagreements, and I think one of the ways that you work through those is (...) through fraternity and authentic dialogue.”

The Trump–Vatican dispute is also described as spilling into Italian politics, with Giorgia Meloni and Antonio Tajani appearing in multiple accounts as defenders of Pope Leo and critics of Trump’s comments.

“If it were up to the Pope, Iran would have nuclear weapons, and that would suit him”

Avvenire

Time Magazine says Rubio’s upcoming visit will mark the first direct engagement between the Administration and the Pope since tensions escalated, and it notes that Rubio is also expected to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has defended the Pope and rebuked Trump’s comments.

Avvenire

Time Magazine further states that relations between Trump and Meloni have come under strain after Trump suggested he would withdraw U.S. troops from Italy and Spain following their refusal to support the war in Iran.

AP reports that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a long-time Trump ally, “has taken exception to Trump’s comments about the pope,” and it says Trump criticized her in return as his ire against NATO allies expands over what he sees as lack of support for the Iran war.

AP also quotes Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, saying in a social media post that Trump’s comments were “neither acceptable nor helpful to the cause of peace,” and it adds that Tajani wrote, “I reaffirm my support for every action and word of Pope Leo; his words are a testament to dialogue, the value of human life, and freedom.”

Al Jazeera adds that Rubio is set to meet on Friday with Meloni, who defended the pope, while her defence minister has said the war in Iran puts U.S. leadership at risk.

France 24 notes that Rubio listed religious freedom as an issue that generally unites the Trump administration and the Vatican, and it quotes Rubio saying, “There’s a lot to talk about with the Vatican.”

Meanwhile, PBS/Associated Press describes Rubio’s parallel diplomatic agenda around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, saying “Operation Epic Fury” is concluded and that Rubio said the U.S. would prefer “the path of peace,” while also insisting Iran must agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and meet nuclear demands.

In the same period, the BBC reports that Brian Burch said there was no “deep rift” between the U.S. and the Vatican and that Rubio’s meetings could allow the two sides to “talk through” differences.