President Trump lashed out at Pope Leo XIV in a prolonged social media publish Sunday night time, calling the pontiff “WEAK on Crime, and horrible for International Coverage.”
Leo has been vital of the battle in Iran and has beforehand made statements at odds with different priorities of the Trump administration, resembling the continuing crackdown on unlawful immigration.
“I do not desire a Pope who thinks it is OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I do not desire a Pope who thinks it is horrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Nation that was sending huge quantities of Medicine into the USA and, even worse, emptying their prisons, together with murderers, drug sellers, and killers, into our Nation,” Mr. Trump wrote.
Leo had known as Mr. Trump’s risk to fully destroy Iranian civilization “actually unacceptable,” and inspired folks to “contact the authorities — political leaders, congressmen — to ask them, inform them to work for peace and to reject battle, all the time.”
On Saturday, whereas he didn’t point out Mr. Trump by identify, Leo stated throughout a prayer vigil for peace at St. Peter’s Basilica, “Sufficient with the idolatry of self and cash! Sufficient with the show of pressure! Sufficient with battle! True power is manifested in serving life.”
Elisabetta Trevisan – Vatican Media by way of Vatican Pool / Getty Pictures 
He additionally urged an finish to the battle by negotiations, saying, “Actually, the leaders of countries have compelling tasks. We cry out to them: cease! That is the time for peace! Sit on the tables of dialogue and mediation, not on the tables the place rearmament is deliberate and dying is deliberated!”
The pope additionally criticized the battle on Friday in a publish on social media, writing, “God doesn’t bless any battle. Anybody who’s a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, isn’t on the aspect of those that as soon as wielded the sword and in the present day drop bombs.”
And in a Palm Sunday homily final month, Leo additionally appeared to criticize Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying that Jesus “doesn’t take heed to the prayers of those that wage battle.”
Mr. Trump additionally claimed Sunday that Leo wouldn’t have been elected pope if it weren’t for him, writing that he “was solely put there by the Church as a result of he was an American, and so they thought that will be one of the best ways to cope with President Donald J. Trump.”
“I do not desire a Pope who criticizes the President of the USA,” Mr. Trump wrote.
“Leo ought to get his act collectively as Pope, use Frequent Sense, cease catering to the Radical Left, and concentrate on being a Nice Pope, not a Politician. It is hurting him very badly and, extra importantly, it is hurting the Catholic Church!” the president stated.
Mr. Trump repeated a number of of his claims to reporters Sunday night time after arriving again in Washington, D.C., saying, “We do not like a pope who says it is OK to have a nuclear weapon.”
“I do not assume he is doing an excellent job. He likes crime, I assume,” Mr. Trump stated, including, “He is a really liberal individual.”
