US President Donald Trump has publicly criticised Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, April 12, accusing him of being weak on crime and ineffectively terrible on foreign policy.
In a post on Truth Social shared on, Trump said he was “not a big fan” of the pontiff, describing him as too liberal and claiming he does not support strong measures against crime.
On Saturday, April 11, the pope called for an end to ongoing war without directly mentioning the US-Israeli war against Iran. “Enough of war,” Leo said during a peace vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
Check out Pope Leo’s speech that got Trump outraged:
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Trump wrote:
“We don’t like a pope that’s going to say it’s okay to have a nuclear weapon. We don’t want a pope that says crime is okay in our cities. I’m not a big fan of Pope Leo. He’s a very liberal person and he’s a man that doesn’t believe in stopping crime.”
Read Trump’s full message to Pope Leo below:
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Trump’s Comments Spark Global Attention
Trump further argued that he disagrees with what he described as the Pope’s stance on major global issues, including nuclear weapons and urban crime.
His remarks quickly drew international attention, adding to ongoing debates around religion, politics, and global security.
Pope Leo XIV Responds During African Tour
Pope Leo XIV responded on Sunday, April 12, while speaking aboard a papal flight to Algiers, where he began a 10-day visit to four African countries.
The Pope made it clear that he does not view his role as political and has no intention of engaging in a direct confrontation with Trump.
“I do not look at my post as being political, politician. I don’t want to get into a debate with him. I don’t think the message of the gospel should be abused the way that some people are doing.”
Pontiff Defends Peace Advocacy, Rejects Political Framing
The Pope emphasised that his mission centres on promoting peace, dialogue, and cooperation among nations. He also stated that he would continue to speak out against war, including the ongoing tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. He said:
“I will continue to speak loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to the problems.”
Rising Tensions Between Politics and Religion
The exchange highlights growing tensions between political leaders and religious figures on global issues such as war, security, and governance.
Observers say the clash underscores the broader debate over the role of religious leadership in shaping international discourse and influencing public opinion.
