Shortly before Secretary of State Rubio’s planned visit to the Vatican on Thursday, Trump has renewed his sharp criticism of Pope Leo XIV.
In an interview with the conservative radio presenter Hugh Hewitt, Trump said that the Pope was endangering “many Catholics and many people”. He again accused Leo of thinking it was acceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon.
Trump also described the Pope as “weak” and criticised his stance on migration.
Leo XIV rejected this portrayal on Tuesday evening. “If anyone wants to criticise me for proclaiming the Gospel, they should do so with the truth,” he told journalists. The Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years; there is “no doubt” about that, emphasised the 70-year-old pontiff.
He referred to his first words after his election: “Peace be with you.” The Church’s mission, he said, is to proclaim the Gospel and peace.
In addition to his meetings at the Vatican, Rubio is also due to meet Italy’s PM Meloni in Rome. This meeting is also seen as a delicate one: Meloni had defended the Pope against Trump’s earlier attacks.
The trip also coincides with the first anniversary of Leo’s pontificate.
@Walter Hinteler,
A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll reveals Americans' discomfort with religion-related statements by President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Trump's AI-generated Jesus image and Hegseth's prayer for violence faced backlash, even from Republicans.
Pope Leo XIV's criticism of U.S. policies contrasts with Trump's declining approval among religious groups.
The poll shows a drop in Trump's approval ratings among Catholics and evangelicals.
Poll finds broad rejection of religion-related messages from Trump, Hegseth [WP, no paywall]
