SAEDNEWS: Trump slams Pope Leo XIV over Iran war stance, calling it “disastrous for foreign policy” as pope rejects nuclear war rhetoric
According to the Saed News political news service, Quoting CNN, U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized Pope Leo XIV on Sunday evening, condemning his position on the Iran war and saying he is “terrible at foreign policy.”
Speaking to reporters, Trump said: “We don’t like a pope who says there is nothing wrong with having nuclear weapons... He is a man who doesn’t think you should play games with a country that wants to have nuclear weapons, because they could blow up the world.” He added, “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo.”
Leo, the first American pope, has become increasingly outspoken about the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. Last week, he condemned Trump’s rhetoric and threats toward the Iranian people as “truly unacceptable.”
The remarks came in response to Trump’s warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight,” a statement made just hours before a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran was reached.
Both Trump and his defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, have invoked religious language in their public messaging during the conflict. Hegseth has even framed the war effort as divinely supported, offering interpretations grounded in religious texts.
Pope Leo has pushed back against this framing. On Sunday, he said: “Jesus is the prince of peace, who rejects war, and no one can use him to justify it.” He added that Christ “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them.”
Trump’s comments came shortly after he posted a lengthy critique on Truth Social, writing that Pope Leo is “weak on crime and terrible at foreign policy.” He added that he does not want a pope who believes Iran should be allowed to have nuclear weapons or who criticizes U.S. military actions abroad.
Following a U.S. operation to detain Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January, the pope had called for respect for “the will of the Venezuelan people” and a return to stability in the country.
Trump also claimed that Leo “was not even on any papal shortlist” and was selected by the Church only because he is American, suggesting it was meant to counter him politically.
Pope Leo has previously spoken against nuclear proliferation. In June, amid discussions in the Trump administration about potential strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, he called for a more secure world free of nuclear threats, emphasizing dialogue, respect, and justice as the path to lasting peace.
Trump’s remarks followed a CBS “60 Minutes” report in which senior American cardinals expressed support for the pope’s stance on war and his earlier opposition to Trump’s immigration policies.
Shortly after his comments, Trump also shared an image on Truth Social depicting himself in a Christ-like form healing a sick person, with American flags and eagles in the background.
