Pope Leo Defies Trump's Criticism, Vows to Continue Peace Advocacy
Pope Leo XIV has publicly responded to a scathing critique from former U.S. President Donald Trump, stating he has 'no fear' of the administration and will continue to speak out against war. The first American pontiff made the comments to reporters aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria on Monday, April 13, 2026. The dispute was ignited by a Truth Social post from Trump on Easter Sunday, in which he labeled the Chicago-born Pope 'WEAK on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, and terrible for Foreign Policy.' Trump also took issue with the Pope's recent closed-door meeting with Democratic strategist and former Obama adviser David Axelrod, whom he called a 'LOSER from the Left.' The president has since refused to apologize for his remarks. The Pope's criticism is rooted in his firm opposition to the ongoing U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran, with his appeals for peace being described as grounded in the gospel. The extraordinary broadside from Trump has drawn condemnation internationally, including from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who called the president's comments 'unacceptable.' Her coalition partner, Matteo Salvini, also criticized the move as neither 'useful nor intelligent.'
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Sources
Pope Leo says he has 'no fear' after Trump labels him 'weak' and 'terrible' in feud over Iran war
The first American pontiff told NBC News on Monday that he would keep up his appeals for peace, which he said were rooted in the gospel. ... ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Leo XIV hit back Monday after President Donald Trump sharply criticized the first American leader of the Catholic Church ...
I do not fear Trump, says Pope Leo after US president calls him ‘weak’ | Pope Leo XIV | The Guardian
Pope Leo said he did not fear the Trump administration and would continue to speak out against war after Donald Trump delivered an extraordinary broadside against him in which he said he did not think the Chicago-born pontiff was “doing a very good job”, while also suggesting he should ...
President Donald Trump lashed out against Pope Leo XIV, accusing him of being “WEAK on Crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy,” as the leader of the Catholic Church recently emerged as an outspoken critic of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
Italian opposition parties have criticised Meloni for failing to speak out promptly. Her coalition partner Matteo Salvini, the leader of the populist League party, said that "attacking the Pope... doesn't seem like a useful or intelligent thing to do." After Trump's remarks, the Pope told reporters ...
Apart from the criticism of the war, a recent closed-door meeting the Chicago-born pontiff had with David Axelrod, a Democratic strategist and adviser to former President Barack Obama, appears to have irked Trump. "Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left," Trump wrote. In his message on Easter Sunday, the pope ...
He covers breaking news, trending stories, sports and crime. Jordan has previously worked at Spin and Death and Taxes. Read Full Bio ... President Trump lashed out at Pope Leo XIV in a lengthy social media post Sunday night, calling the pontiff "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy." Leo has been critical ...
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