Trump-Pope clash rehashes old gripes, casts cloud over Rubio's Vatican visit
Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, who responded to the US president's broadside on Tuesday by reaffirming his mission to preach peace while accepting public scrutiny. The verbal clash between the two men comes days before US Secretary of StateMarco Rubio visits the Vatican, raising concerns the dispute could hinder delicate diplomatic efforts.
Issued on: 05/05/2026 - 21:13Modified: 05/05/2026 - 21:31
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Pope Leo XIV said on Tuesday he is hoping to spread the Christian message by speaking about peace but that people are free to criticize him, following the latest attack on the pontiff by US President Donald Trump.
"The mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace," said Leo, the first US pope. "If someone wants to criticize me for preaching the Gospel ... I hope simply to be listened to because of the value of God's words."
Trump's renewed criticism of the pope could potentially complicate a fence-mending visit that Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to make this week to the Vatican.
In an interview with conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt, Trump said the first American-born pontiff is helping Iran and also making the world less safe with his comments about the importance of not treating immigrants with disrespect.
Read more‘Not afraid’: Pope Leo pushes back against Trump in feud over Iran war
“The pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said in the interview on Monday. “And I don’t think that’s very good. I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people.”
The pope, however, has not said Iran should obtain nuclear weapons. He’s called for more peace talks, and criticized war with Iran generally and Trump’s specific threats of mass civilian strikes. The pope also has emphasised that he’s reflecting biblical and church teachings, not speaking as a political rival to Trump.
Regardless, Trump’s latest comments may make Rubio’s task more difficult when he sees the pontiff on Thursday. Rubio has often been called on to tone down or explain Trump’s harsh rhetoric as it relates to Europe, NATO and the Middle East, but the president’s dispute with the pope has domestic political implications in the US with midterm congressional elections approaching.
The State Department said on Monday that Rubio, a practicing Catholic who after this trip will have visited Italy or the Vatican at least three times in the past year, would travel to Rome and Vatican City on Thursday and Friday.
Trump lashed out at Leo on social media last month, saying the pope was soft on crime and terrorism for comments about the administration’s immigration policies and deportations as well as the Iran war. Leo then said God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who wage war.
Later, Trump posted a social media image likening himself to Jesus Christ, which he then deleted after backlash.
He has refused to apologize to Leo and has sought to explain away the social media post by saying he thought the image was of him as a doctor.
The tension has spilled over into Italian politics, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a long-time Trump ally, taking exception to Trump’s comments about the pope. Trump in return criticized her as his ire against NATO allies expands over what he sees as a lack of support for the Iran war — most recently with the Pentagon planning to pull thousands of troops out of Germany in the coming months.
In response to Trump's latest comments criticizing the pope, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a social media post that they were “neither acceptable nor helpful to the cause of peace”.
“I reaffirm my support for every action and word of Pope Leo; his words are a testament to dialogue, the value of human life, and freedom. This is a vision shared by our government, which is committed through diplomacy to ensuring stability and peace in all areas where conflicts exist,” Tajani wrote.
Rubio is expected to meet with Meloni and Tajani on Friday.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
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