Pope Leo XIV and President Trump Clash Over Iran Conflict

Background of the Conflict

The U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran began on February 28, 2026. A fragile ceasefire was subsequently established, with face-to-face negotiations between U.S. and Iranian delegations taking place in Pakistan in early April. The U.S. delegation was led by Vice President JD Vance.

Pope Leo XIV's Statements on the War

Pope Leo XIV has made multiple public appeals for peace since the conflict began. On Sunday, April 12, he presided over an evening prayer vigil at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. During the service, he stated that prayer for peace serves as "a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive."

"Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!"

He called on world leaders to "stop" the war and "sit at the table of dialogue and mediation." The pope said that those who pray "are aware of their own limitations. They do not kill or threaten with death." He also stated, "Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death."

In a previous statement, Pope Leo described a threat by President Trump against Iranian civilization as "truly unacceptable." He called for dialogue and urged people to contact their political leaders to work for peace.

On Friday, April 10, the pope wrote on his social media account:

"God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs. Military action will not create space for freedom or times of Peace, which comes only from the patient promotion of coexistence and dialogue among peoples."

During the prayer service, the Archbishop of Tehran, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, was in attendance. The United States was represented by Deputy Chief of Mission to the Holy See, Laura Hochla. The Vatican has expressed particular concern about the impact of the conflict on Christian communities in southern Lebanon.

Trump's Criticism of the Pope

On Sunday, April 12, President Trump posted on his Truth Social platform criticizing Pope Leo XIV. Trump described the pope as "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy." He wrote:

"I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon."

Trump also criticized the pope for opposing U.S. military actions in Venezuela and for criticizing the U.S. president.

Trump claimed that Pope Leo XIV was elected "because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump." He wrote, "If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican," and advised the pope to "focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician."

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said he is "not a fan of Pope Leo," describing him as "a very liberal person" and "a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime." He repeated his criticism of the pope's position on Iran's nuclear capabilities, stating, "We don't like a pope who says it's OK to have a nuclear weapon."

Trump also shared an AI-generated image on his social media platform depicting himself in a biblical-style robe with light emanating from his fingers, which he later deleted. He stated the image was intended to portray him "as a doctor, making people better."

Responses to Trump's Statements

Pope Leo XIV

When asked about Trump's criticism during a flight to Algeria on Monday, Pope Leo XIV responded:

"The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone, and the message of the Gospel is very clear: 'Blessed are the peacemakers.'"

He added that he has "no fear of the Trump administration" and will continue to "speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue."

Vatican Spokesman

Father Antonio Spadaro, a Vatican spokesman, responded to Trump's posts, stating they reflected his "impotence" in the face of Vatican criticism. He wrote:

"When political power turns against a moral voice, it is often because it cannot contain it. Unable to absorb that voice, power tries to delegitimize it. Yet in doing so, it implicitly acknowledges its weight."

U.S. Catholic Leaders

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement saying he was "disheartened" by Trump's comments. Coakley stated:

"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."

Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, described the Iran war as "morally unjustifiable" and "a war of choice." Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, criticized the White House for sharing social media posts about the war with video game-style imagery.

Iranian President

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted a message on Monday condemning what he called an insult to the pope, stating that "the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person."

Trump's Subsequent Claims on Nuclear Weapons

On Thursday, April 16, President Trump claimed during an interview that Pope Leo XIV had said "Iran can have a nuclear weapon." This claim was noted as inaccurate by journalists present. Pope Leo XIV has made no public statement endorsing Iran having nuclear weapons.

The pope has made multiple statements opposing nuclear weapons:

• June 2025: Called for "a safer world, free from the nuclear threat" to be pursued through dialogue.
• July 2025: Marking the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he stated that nuclear weapons cause "profound horrors" and called for rejecting "the illusion of security founded on mutually assured destruction."
• January 2026: Criticized nuclear deterrence as being "based on the irrationality of relations between nations" and "fear and domination by force."
• March 2026: Posted on social media urging nations to move toward "effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament."

Pope's Africa Tour

Pope Leo XIV was scheduled to begin an 11-day tour of four African countries on Monday: Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. The tour is focused on promoting unity, peace, and interfaith relationships. According to Vatican statistics, more than 20% of the world's Catholics live in Africa.

Statements from Other US Officials

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has described the conflict with Iran in religious terms, calling for prayers for victory "in the name of Jesus Christ."

When asked whether he thought God approved of the war, President Trump responded:

"I do, because God is good -- because God is good and God wants to see people taken care of."