Trump set off the furore by calling Leo “terrible”, drawing a rare and direct response from the pope, who vowed to continue speaking out against the US-led war on Iran and in defence of migrants.
In response to Leo’s remarks, Trump renewed his criticism, saying the pope was wrong on issues of law and order, extending a clash between the two leaders over crime, policing and the war.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Trump’s remarks were unacceptable. “I find President Trump’s words towards the Holy Father unacceptable. The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn every form of war,” she said.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who has in the past associated himself with Trump, was more explicit in his criticism, highlighting how Europe’s far-right appears to be distancing itself from the MAGA orbit.
“Pope Leo is a spiritual leader for billions of Catholics, but beyond that, if there is one person striving for peace, it is Pope Leo, and so attacking him does not seem either wise or helpful,” he said in a statement.
Antonio Spadaro, a Roman Catholic priest and undersecretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education, said Trump’s attack revealed his own weakness. “If Leo were irrelevant, he would not merit any comment,” Spadaro wrote on X.
“Instead, he is invoked, named, opposed – a sign that his words matter,” he added. “This is where the Church’s moral force emerges, not as a counter-power, but as a space in which power is judged by a standard it does not control.”
Meanwhile, speaking aboard the papal flight to Algiers, the first stop on a 10-day tour of four African countries, the pontiff said the Christian message was being misused. “I don’t want to get into a debate with him,” Leo told Reuters.
“I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing. I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, dialogue and multilateral relationships among states to find just solutions,” he said.
“Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. I think someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way. The message of the Church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political,” he added.
At the same time, Trump shared an AI-generated image of himself in Christ-like attire, appearing to heal an elderly man, in a post on Truth Social shortly after criticising the pope. The image also featured soldiers, nurses and warplanes in the background, drew criticism, including from Iran. The image was later deleted.
Speculation circulated online about the identity of the figure in the image, which with some suggesting it resembled disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, while others viewed it as a wounded veteran. Democratic commentator Harry Sisson wrote on X, “Trump is now posting AI images of himself as Jesus Christ healing what appears to be a young Jeffrey Epstein.”
Arizona State Senator Mark Kelly described the post as “abhorrent”, saying as a Catholic it was unacceptable that “the President of the United States would publicly attack the Successor of St Peter,” adding, “Donald Trump is flailing.”
Iran also condemned Trump’s remarks. Parliamentary Speaker Baghar Galibaf wrote on X: “Honouring Pope Leo’s fearless stand! ‘I have no fear’ echoes as he condemns the war crimes of Israel and the US This slogan lights the path for all who refuse to stay silent on the killing of innocents. @Pontifex leadership inspires millions – thank you for this light.”
(WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)