Trump Launches Bitter Attack on Pope Leo XIV, Sparking International Backlash

Trump launched an unprecedented and bitter public attack on Pope Leo XIV, calling him weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy.

“Un attacco frontale al primo papa americano della storia”

ANSA

Trump claimed the pope was only elected because he was an American and they thought that would be the best way to deal with Trump.

ANSA

The pope had used his Easter Mass to call on those who have weapons to lay them down and condemned Trump's rhetoric as truly unacceptable.

Trump posted an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Christ-like figure, which he later deleted and claimed was meant to show him as a doctor.

The pope responded by saying he had no fear of the Trump administration.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned Trump's remarks as unacceptable.

The president's attack sparked dismay across the American Catholic spectrum, including conservative-leaning bishops.

Archbishop Paul Coakley said he was disheartened that the president chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father.

AP News

Bishop Robert Barron called the president's remarks entirely inappropriate and disrespectful and urged him to apologize.

The dismay extended into conservative Christian evangelicals.

Prominent Trump-supporting commentator David Brody posted, TAKE THIS DOWN, MR. PRESIDENT. You’re not God.

The Guardian noted that the factory had been audited by Hessen's compliance team in March.

Trump's feud with the pope comes just six months before voting begins in the fall midterms.

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Catholics comprise about 1 in 5 voters nationally.

Trump won the group by somewhere between a 10- and 20-point margin in 2024.

David Campbell said this is unprecedented criticism of a pope from a US president.

David Gibson noted that many lay Catholics have been standing by Trump.

Kathleen Sprows Cummings said Trump’s invective represents a historic reversal.

The feud hit a particularly sensitive note in Chicago, the hometown of both Trump and Pope Leo XIV.

Three influential American cardinals explained why the Catholic Church has emerged as a voice of moral opposition to the war in Iran.

Boston Herald

Cupich called videos posted of bombings in Iran sickening.

Chicago Catholics drew a hard line at the AI image depicting Trump as Jesus.

Christopher Hale said the president will need to find some kind of exit ramp.