Donald Trump said Pope Leone XIV is endangering Catholics by maintaining a soft stance on Iran's nuclear program [1, 2].
This criticism arrives at a sensitive diplomatic moment, as the U.S. government prepares for high-level engagements with the Holy See. The timing may complicate the objectives of U.S. diplomats seeking to maintain stable relations with the Vatican while managing tensions with Tehran.
Trump made the comments in a statement to Salem News [2]. He said the Pope's approach to Iranian nuclear weapons is too lenient, which he said puts the lives of Catholics at risk [2, 3].
"Il Papa sta mettendo in pericolo molti cattolici e molte persone," Trump said in a statement cited by Il Mattino [2]. In another instance, he said the Pope "mette a rischio la vita dei cattolici" [3].
The remarks were issued two days [1] before the scheduled visit of Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Vatican this Thursday. Rubio's visit is intended to strengthen ties and discuss global security, but Trump's public criticism of the pontiff creates a friction point before the meeting begins.
Pope Leone XIV responded to the general atmosphere of criticism. "Chi mi critica lo faccia con la verità," the Pope said [4].
The tension centers on the divergence between the Vatican's diplomatic preference for dialogue and the more aggressive posture Trump has historically advocated regarding the Iranian regime. By framing the issue as a matter of safety for the faithful, Trump connects geopolitical nuclear policy to the direct welfare of the Catholic community [2, 3].
“"Il Papa sta mettendo in pericolo molti cattolici e molte persone"”
This public clash signals a potential rift between the U.S. executive's preferred foreign policy and the Vatican's diplomatic neutrality. By accusing the Pope of endangering believers, Trump shifts a geopolitical debate over nuclear proliferation into a religious and humanitarian concern, potentially pressuring Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address these accusations during his official visit.
