Pope Leo says he does not fear Trump, citing Gospel as he pushes back in
feud over Iran war
[April 13, 2026]
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV pushed back
Monday on President Donald Trump’s broadside against him over the
U.S.-Israel war in Iran, telling reporters that the Vatican’s appeals
for peace and reconciliation are rooted in the Gospel, and that he
doesn’t fear the Trump administration.
“To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted
to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel
is,” Leo told AP aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria. “And I’m
sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission
of the church in the world today.”
History’s first U.S.-born pope stressed that he was not making a direct
attack against Trump or anyone else with his general appeal for peace
and criticisms of the “delusion of omnipotence” that is fueling the Iran
wars and other conflicts around the world.
“I will not enter into debate. The things that I say are certainly not
meant as attacks on anyone. The message of the Gospel is very clear:
‘Blessed are the peacemakers,’” Leo said.
“I will not shy away from announcing the message of the Gospel and
inviting all people to look for ways of building bridges of peace and
reconciliation, and looking for ways to avoid war any time that’s
possible”
Speaking to other reporters, he added: “I have no fear of the Trump
administration.”
Trump delivered an extraordinary broadside against Leo on Sunday night,
saying he didn't think the U.S.-born global leader of the Catholic
Church is “doing a very good job” and that “he's a very liberal person,"
while also suggesting the pontiff should “stop catering to the Radical
Left.”
Flying back to Washington from Florida, Trump used a lengthy social
media post to sharply criticize Leo, then kept it up after deplaning, in
comments on the tarmac to reporters.
“I’m not a fan of Pope Leo,” he said.
Trump's comments came after Leo suggested over the weekend that a
“delusion of omnipotence” is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. While
it’s not unusual for popes and presidents to be at cross purposes, it’s
exceedingly rare for the pope to directly criticize a U.S. leader — and
Trump’s stinging response is equally uncommon, if not more so.
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” the
president wrote in his post, adding, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks
it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon."
He repeated that sentiment in comments to reporters, saying, “We don’t
like a pope who says it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon.”
Later, Trump posted a picture suggesting he had saint-like powers akin
to those of Jesus Christ. Wearing a biblical-style robe, Trump is seen
laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers,
while a soldier, a nurse, a praying woman and a bearded man in a
baseball cap all look on admiringly. The sky above is filled with
eagles, an American flag and vaporous images.
All of that came after Leo presided over an evening prayer service in
St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, the same day the United States and
Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan during a fragile
ceasefire. The pope didn’t mention the United States or Trump by name,
but his tone and message appeared directed at Trump and U.S. officials,
who have boasted of U.S. military superiority and justified the war in
religious terms.
Leo, who is on an 11-day trip to Africa starting Monday — has previously
said that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but
rejects them.” He's also referenced an Old Testament passage from
Isaiah, saying that “even though you make many prayers, I will not
listen — your hands are full of blood.”
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Pope Leo XIV delivers the Regina Coeli prayer in St. Peter's Square
at the Vatican, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Before the ceasefire, when Trump warned of mass strikes against
Iranian power plants and other infrastructure and that “an entire
civilization will die tonight,” Leo described such sentiments as
“truly unacceptable.”
In his social media post on Sunday night, however, Trump went far
beyond the war in Iran in criticizing Leo.
The president wrote, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible
that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive
amounts of Drugs into the United States.” That was a reference to
the Trump administration having ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás
Maduro in January.
“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,” Trump added, referencing his 2024 election victory.
He also suggested in the post that Leo only got his position
“because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best
way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”
“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,”
Trump wrote, adding, “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use
Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being
a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and,
more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!”
In his subsequent comments to reporters, Trump remained highly
critical, saying of Leo, “I don’t think he’s doing a very good job.
He likes crime I guess” and adding, “He’s a very liberal person.”
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops, issued a statement saying he was “disheartened” by
Trump's comments.
“Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the
Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the
care of souls,” Coakley said.
In the 2024 election, Trump won 55% of Catholic voters, according to
AP VoteCast, an extensive survey of the electorate. But Trump's
administration also has close ties to conservative evangelical
Protestant leaders and has claimed heavenly endorsement for the war
on Iran.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Americans to pray for victory
“in the name of Jesus Christ.” And, when Trump was asked whether he
thought God approved of the war, he said, “I do, because God is good
— because God is good and God wants to see people taken care of.”
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Winfield reported from aboard the papal plane.
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