President Donald Trump speaks with reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sunday, April 12, 2026, after he returned from Miami.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
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Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump delivered a unprecedented broadside in opposition to Pope Leo XIV on Sunday evening, saying he did not suppose the U.S.-born world chief of the Catholic Church is “doing a very good job” and that “he’s a very liberal person,” whereas additionally suggesting the pontiff ought to “stop catering to the Radical Left.”
Flying again to Washington from Florida, Trump used a prolonged social media put up to sharply criticize Leo, then stored it up after deplaning, in feedback on the tarmac to reporters.
“I’m not a fan of Pope Leo,” he stated.
Trump’s feedback got here after Leo recommended over the weekend {that a} “delusion of omnipotence” is fueling the U.S.-Israel warfare in Iran. Whereas it is common for popes and presidents to be at cross functions, it is exceedingly uncommon for the pope to straight criticize a U.S. chief — and Trump’s stinging response is equally unusual, if no more so.
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” the president wrote in his put up, including, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.”
He repeated that sentiment in feedback to reporters, saying, “We don’t like a pope who says it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon.”
Later, Trump posted an image suggesting he had saint-like powers akin to these of Jesus Christ. Carrying a biblical-style gown, Trump is seen laying arms on a bedridden man as gentle emanates from his fingers, whereas a soldier, a nurse, a praying girl and a bearded man in a baseball cap all look on admiringly. The sky above is stuffed with eagles, an American flag and vaporous pictures.
All of that got here after Leo presided over a night prayer service in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, the identical day the USA and Iran started face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan throughout a fragile ceasefire. The pope did not point out the USA or Trump by title, however his tone and message appeared directed at Trump and U.S. officers, who’ve boasted of U.S. army superiority and justified the warfare in non secular phrases.
Leo — who’s scheduled to depart Monday for an 11-day journey to Africa — has beforehand stated that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” He is additionally referenced an Outdated Testomony passage from Isaiah, saying that “even though you make many prayers, I will not listen — your hands are full of blood.”
Earlier than the ceasefire, when Trump warned of mass strikes in opposition to Iranian energy crops and different infrastructure and that “an entire civilization will die tonight,” Leo described such sentiments as “truly unacceptable.”
In his social media put up on Sunday evening, nevertheless, Trump went far past the warfare in Iran in criticizing Leo.
The president wrote, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States.” That was a reference to the Trump administration having ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January.
“I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do,” Trump added, referencing his 2024 election victory.
He additionally recommended within the put up that Leo solely obtained his place “because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”
“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” Trump wrote, including, “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!”
In his subsequent feedback to reporters, Trump remained extremely essential, saying of Leo, “I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess” and including, “He’s a very liberal person.”
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Convention of Catholic Bishops, issued an announcement saying he was “disheartened” by Trump’s feedback.
“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,” Coakley stated.
Within the 2024 election, Trump received 55% of Catholic voters, in keeping with AP VoteCast, an in depth survey of the citizens. However Trump’s administration additionally has shut ties to conservative evangelical Protestant leaders and has claimed heavenly endorsement for the warfare on Iran.
Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Individuals to hope for victory “in the name of Jesus Christ.” And, when Trump was requested whether or not he thought God authorised of the warfare, he stated, “I do, because God is good — because God is good and God wants to see people taken care of.”
