President Donald Trump told Pope Leo XIV that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons during a tour of Africa on June 17, 2024 [1].
The exchange highlights a growing diplomatic rift between the U.S. administration and the Catholic Church over the handling of the Iran conflict. While the Pope has called for peace and criticized the U.S.-Israel war in Iran, Trump maintains that a nuclear-armed Iran represents an unacceptable danger.
Trump addressed the pontiff via a social-media post that was later deleted. In a subsequent statement to the press, Trump said, "He was very much against what I’m doing with regard to Iran, and you cannot have a nuclear Iran. Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result."
Trump further criticized the religious leader's approach to the region. He said, "I do not support Iran having nuclear weapons, and I think the Pope is weak on this issue."
The tension stems from Pope Leo's public calls for peace and his opposition to the current U.S. stance on the conflict. The Pope has rejected the comments made by the president and said that the Catholic Church does not support a nuclear Iran.
Following the public disagreement, reports varied on whether the president sought to reconcile with the Vatican. Some reports said Trump refused to apologize to Pope Leo XIV, while others said he sought to explain the deleted post without issuing a formal apology.
“"You cannot have a nuclear Iran."”
This clash underscores a fundamental disagreement between the U.S. executive branch's security-first approach to nuclear proliferation and the Vatican's emphasis on diplomatic peace. By publicly labeling the Pope as 'weak,' Trump signaled a willingness to prioritize geopolitical strategy over traditional diplomatic deference to the Holy See.
