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A political and spiritual firestorm erupted Sunday night as President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack on Pope Leo XIV — accusing the Catholic leader of being “terrible for foreign policy” and igniting a high-stakes global clash over war, nuclear threats, and moral authority.

“I’m not a fan of Pope Leo”

The president didn’t hold back.

“We don’t like a pope that’s going to say that it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon. … He’s a man that doesn’t think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world,” Trump told reporters, before adding bluntly, “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo.”

The remarks mark a dramatic escalation in tensions between the White House and the Vatican — and come at a moment when global fears over nuclear risk and war are already surging.

A Pope Speaking Out — And Pushing Back

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, has grown increasingly vocal about the US and Israel’s war with Iran.

Just last week, he sharply criticized Trump’s rhetoric, calling threats against Iran “truly unacceptable.”

That rebuke followed one of Trump’s most alarming warnings yet: “a whole civilization will die tonight,” issued just hours before a fragile two-week ceasefire with Iran was reached.

While Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have publicly invoked God to justify the conflict — with Hegseth even using scriptural language — Leo has firmly rejected that framing.

“Jesus is the king of peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” the pope said on Palm Sunday.
“He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them.”

Truth Social Tirade Fuels the Conflict

Trump doubled down shortly after his remarks, unleashing a lengthy post on Truth Social.

“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” he wrote, criticizing the pope’s stance not only on Iran but also on US actions abroad — including opposition to America’s strike against Venezuela.

The pope had previously urged respect for “the will of the Venezuelan people” and called for stability after the US operation targeting Nicolás Maduro.

Trump made his position crystal clear: “I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States.”

He went even further, claiming Leo “wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American.”

Vatican Fires Back: “A Moral Voice” Under Attack

The response from the Vatican was swift — and sharp.

Fr Antonio Spadaro, a senior Vatican official, accused Trump of targeting “a moral voice” he cannot control.

“Trump doesn’t debate Leo: he begs him to retreat into a language that he can dominate,” Spadaro said.
“But the Pope speaks another language, one that refuses to be reduced to the grammar of force, of security, of national interest.”

He added a striking warning:
“The attack is a declaration of impotence … If Leo were irrelevant, he wouldn’t merit a word. Instead, he is called out, named, fought: a sign that his word cuts deep.”

Nuclear Fears and Global Stakes Rise

At the heart of the conflict is a deeper, more dangerous divide — one centered on nuclear weapons and the risk of global catastrophe.

Leo has long warned against nuclear proliferation, urging diplomacy over destruction.

“The commitment to building a safer world free from the nuclear threat must be pursued through respectful encounters and sincere dialogue,” he said last June.
“A lasting peace, founded on justice, fraternity and the common good.”

Political Pressure Builds Behind the Scenes

The clash comes just as CBS News’ “60 Minutes” aired a report featuring senior American cardinals backing the pope’s stance — and highlighting his opposition to Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Observers say the timing may not be a coincidence.

Elise Ann Allen, a Rome-based correspondent for Catholic outlet Crux, suggested Trump’s reaction signals mounting pressure.

“Donald Trump is starting to feel the heat,” she said.
“He has to be careful, because he has to remember that it’s the moderate Catholics who got him elected in both elections.”

A Battle Unlikely to Cool Down

Despite the intensifying rhetoric, Leo is not expected to respond directly as he prepares for a 10-day papal visit to Africa.

But Trump showed no signs of backing off.

Shortly after his comments, he posted a striking image on Truth Social depicting himself as a Christ-like figure healing a sick person — with American flags and eagles behind him.

A symbolic move — and a clear signal — that this high-stakes confrontation between political power and moral authority is far from over.