US President Donald Trump declared on 16/4 that he was not confronting Pope Leo XIV, despite recent disagreements between the two leaders, particularly concerning the conflict in Iran. When asked by a reporter why he was confronting the Pope, Trump stated he "had to do the right thing".

"Simply put, I am not against the Pope. I am not confronting him", the US President said. He added, "The Pope has said Iran could possess nuclear weapons, while I say Iran cannot". Trump further emphasized his stance to reporters, stating, "The Pope must understand that Iran has caused over 42,000 deaths in the past few months. They are all unarmed protestors. The Pope must understand that this is the real world, an extremely cruel world".

US President Donald Trump (right) and Pope Leo XIV. Photo: AP.

However, Pope Leo XIV has never said Iran should have nuclear weapons and has repeatedly opposed weapons of mass destruction. The Vatican leader has condemned the "illusion of unlimited power" that fuels escalating conflict in Iran, without naming any specific party. This statement was understood as a call to return to dialogue and multilateral solutions.

On 16/4 in Cameroon, the Pope criticized those who invoke religion to justify military action, stating that the world "is being ravaged by a small group of tyrants". He did not, however, mention Trump or Iran's nuclear weapons program. The head of the Vatican has not commented on Trump's latest remarks.

The relationship between the two leaders has seen shifts. Trump once welcomed Pope Leo XIV's election as a "great honor" for the US. In his first year, the Pope largely avoided directly criticizing the Trump administration, but his stance gradually changed as the conflict in Iran escalated. Following Trump's threat to "wipe out Iranian civilization", the Pope called this "completely unacceptable".

Previously, on 12/4, Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV, claiming he was "weak on crime and poor on foreign policy". The US leader then stated he "did not support a Pope who thinks Iran could possess nuclear weapons". In response, the Pope declared he was "not afraid of the Trump administration" and would continue to speak out for peace, a rare direct mention of a US presidential administration. Trump later asserted he "owed the Pope no apology".

Pope Leo XIV gives a Christmas blessing at the Vatican on 25/12/2025. Photo: AP.

Trump's criticism of the Pope has displeased some Catholic voters. Trump secured his second term in 11/2024 partly due to support from the US Catholic community, with 55% of this voter group casting ballots for him, according to the Pew Research Center. This remains a crucial voter bloc that the Republican Party needs to rely on to maintain a narrow majority in both chambers during midterm elections.

Trump also previously clashed with Pope Leo XIV's predecessor, the late Pope Francis. These conflicts centered on Trump's commitment to build a wall along the US-Mexico border and his mass deportation policies during his first term.

Sources: Yahoo News, Reuters, AFP.