U.S. President Donald Trump said in a pointed tone to reporters on Sunday that he is not exactly “a big fan” of Pope Leo XIV—one day after a strong anti-war intervention by the head of the Roman Catholic Church—having earlier criticized him on Truth Social.
“I’m not a big fan of him,” the Republican told journalists at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, accusing him of being “very liberal” and of “not believing in stopping crime.”
He also accused the Pope of believing that it would not be a problem if Iran were to acquire a nuclear weapon, reacting to the Pope’s criticism of the U.S.-Israeli strike on the Islamic Republic on February 28, which marked the beginning of the war in the Middle East.
Shortly before that, Donald Trump had published a lengthy post on his social media platform, attacking the Pope and accusing him—among other things—of supporting Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program, opposing the U.S. military operation in Venezuela in January, and meeting with figures sympathetic to former Democratic President Barack Obama.
“And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History,” the U.S. President stressed.
At nearly the same time, the Republican posted an AI-generated image depicting himself, dressed in white and red papal robes, placing his hand on the forehead of a bedridden patient in a hospital, surrounded by people praying or waiting expectantly. In the background appeared the American flag, the Statue of Liberty, fighter jets, eagles, and other symbolic elements.
In his strongest intervention since the outbreak of wars across the world—especially in the Middle East—Pope Leo XIV said on Saturday that religious faith is essential “to face together this dramatic moment in history.”
“Enough of the idolatry of the self and of money! Enough of displays of power! Enough of war! True power is shown when we serve life,” the American head of the Roman Catholic Church said during a vigil and prayer for peace at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Addressing “leaders,” the Pope also said that “it is time” to guarantee “peace,” to “sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned or deadly actions are decided.”
As in the past, he avoided mentioning any political figure or country by name.
Since his election in May 2025, the Chicago-born Pope has taken a clear stance against certain decisions of the Trump administration, while nevertheless maintaining open channels of communication.
