US President Donald Trump sharply criticized Pope Leo XIV via the Truth Social social network. He accused the pontiff of being weak in the fight against crime and ineffective in foreign policy, openly criticizing his positions.
In his statement, Trump also touched on several geopolitical issues. He said he does not accept a Pope who considers it normal for Iran to possess nuclear weapons. He also strongly criticized the Pope’s position condemning possible US military actions against Venezuela. In his opinion, the Pope should focus on his religious mission rather than evaluating the actions of the US leadership.
Trump also put forward another controversial claim, stating that Leo XIV was elected Pope primarily because he is American. He even said, “If I were not in the White House, he would not be in the Vatican.” At the same time, he added that the Pope should “stop flattering the radical left” and focus on being “a great Pope, not a politician.”
For reference, in January 2026 Pope Leo XIV delivered a traditional address to the diplomatic corps in the Vatican, where he spoke about modern diplomacy. According to him, diplomacy based on dialogue and the pursuit of consensus is being pushed out by approaches based on force and pressure. He also called for respect for the rights and inherent human dignity of refugees, migrants, and prisoners.
Soon after, the issue was also discussed at the US Department of Defense. Deputy Secretary for Political Affairs Elbridge Colby invited the papal nuncio (ambassador) to the US, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, to the Pentagon. According to media reports, during the meeting dissatisfaction was expressed regarding the Pope’s critical statements about Trump’s policies.
Speaking about the situation in the Middle East, the Pope called on all countries to strive for peace, reject war, and seek solutions through dialogue. He also urged citizens to contact authorities, political leaders, and congressmen, encouraging them to work for peace.
At the same time, Leo XIV stated that he does not intend to discuss the recent statements of the US president addressed to him. He emphasized that his mission is not politics, but spreading the message of the Gospel, and that he is not afraid of any pressure.
“We are not politicians. We exist to bring the ideas of peace and reconciliation to the world,” he said in an interview with journalists.
Trump’s statements also drew criticism from international politicians. In particular, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the Pope, noting that his calls for peace are natural and appropriate. She described Trump’s words as unacceptable.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini also commented on the situation, reminding that the Pope is the spiritual leader of billions of Catholics. In his opinion, attacks against someone who promotes peace are illogical.
Meanwhile, another controversial incident occurred. On April 12, Donald Trump published an image created using artificial intelligence in which he was depicted in the image of Jesus Christ. In the picture, he was shown standing over a hospital bed, seemingly healing a patient, with light emanating from his palms, while a soldier, a nurse, a praying woman, and a man in a cap were also depicted nearby.
This post drew sharp criticism from Christians, including supporters of the US president. Fox News host and conservative commentator Riley Gaines said she could not understand why he published the image and advised Trump to “be a little more humble.”
Conservative Daily Wire author Megan Basham described Trump’s post as “blasphemy.” BlazeTV host Steve Deace reacted to the post with the word “No.”
Later, Trump confirmed that he had personally posted the controversial image. He deleted it and stated that he was not depicted as Jesus, but as a Red Cross doctor. “Only fake news could come up with such an interpretation. I just heard about it and thought: ‘How did that even come to their minds?’ It was meant to show me as a doctor helping people recover,” Trump said.
Thus, the confrontation between Trump and the Pope has gone beyond politics and has become the center of moral and social discussions. How this conflict will develop remains unclear, but it continues to stay in the spotlight of the global public.
