Image: from World Brief Wire X @WorldBriefWire
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
April 13, 2026
WASHINGTON — A rare and deepening public rift between the White House and the Holy See escalated Sunday night as President Donald Trump launched a sweeping attack on Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff, over his outspoken opposition to the war in Iran.
In a lengthy Truth Social post, the President accused the 70-year-old Chicago native of being “terrible for foreign policy” and “weak on crime,” highlighting a fundamental divide between the administration’s military strategy and the Vatican’s moral doctrine.
Donald Trump has launched a sharp attack on Pope Leo, calling him “weak” after he condemned the US war in Iran
The row intensified after Trump shared controversial, godly imagery of himself on social media, drawing criticism and triggering political backlash@srinjoyc1 &… pic.twitter.com/NRgraymAaa
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) April 13, 2026
‘Weak on Nuclear Weapons’
The President’s ire follows a series of recent statements by Pope Leo, who described the administration’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization as “truly unacceptable.” On Sunday, Trump countered by framing the Pope’s peace appeals as a threat to national security.
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump posted, referring to the recent breakdown of talks in Pakistan over Tehran’s nuclear program. “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.”
Trump also criticized the Pope for his focus on the treatment of migrants in the U.S. and for his opposition to recent military operations in Venezuela, claiming the pontiff was ignoring the reality of international crime and security.
A ‘Moral Question’ vs. Strategic Necessity
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, has taken an increasingly firm stance against the conflict that began on February 28. Speaking to journalists en route to Algeria on Monday morning, the Pope refused to engage in a direct political debate but reaffirmed his commitment to peace.
“The message of the Gospel is very clear: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers,’” the Pope told reporters aboard the papal plane. “I will not shy away from announcing the message of the Gospel… I have no fear of the Trump administration.”
The Pope previously argued that the U.S. strategy, particularly the warning that a “whole civilization will die,” transcends international law and enters the realm of a “moral question” for the world.
Escalation on the High Seas
The war of words coincides with a significant military escalation. At 1400 GMT today, the U.S. is scheduled to begin a full naval blockade of all Iranian ports. While CENTCOM has clarified that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open for traffic to non-Iranian ports, the move has been condemned by the Vatican as a step toward “total war.”
The clash is particularly notable given Pope Leo’s background; as the first U.S. citizen to hold the papacy, his critique of American policy carries unique weight both in the U.S. and among the global Catholic population.