Trump–Vatican rift deepens over Iran as Pope Leo draws moral line

Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on Pope Leo XIV, accusing him of being “weak” on crime and “terrible” on foreign policy, in remarks that portray growing tensions between Washington and the Vatican.

In a post on Truth Social late Sunday, Trump criticised the pope, urging him to “focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician”, according to the Financial Times.

“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” Trump said, adding that he should not be criticised for carrying out policies he was elected to implement.

The comments come after Pope Leo strongly criticised the US-Israeli war against Iran, describing Trump’s recent threat to “wipe out Iranian civilisation” as “truly unacceptable”.

Speaking during a peace vigil at St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, the pope warned against what he described as a “delusion of omnipotence” that is becoming “increasingly unpredictable and aggressive”. While he did not directly name the United States, his remarks were widely interpreted as a rebuke of Washington’s posture.

Tensions escalated further as Trump claimed he played a role in the pope’s emergence, suggesting the Church elevated him because he is American.

The dispute comes amid broader criticism from senior Catholic figures in the US. Robert McElroy, archbishop of Washington DC, described the Iran conflict as “not a just war” and warned of a growing risk of repeated military engagements.

Similarly, Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, condemned the tone of US war communications, criticising what he called the “dehumanising” portrayal of conflict.

Responding to Trump’s comments, Antonio Spadaro said the attack reflected political frustration in the face of moral criticism, arguing that efforts to discredit the Church’s position ultimately underscore its influence.