Pope Leo XIV 'Not Afraid' of Trump After President Labels Him Weak on Foreign Policy

Pope Leo XIV told reporters aboard the papal flight to Algiers on Monday that he was not afraid of the Trump administration and would continue speaking out against war, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump attacked him on Truth Social as "WEAK on Crime" and "terrible for Foreign Policy." Trump's post, published late Sunday, came in apparent response to the pope's recent criticism of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and the White House's immigration policies. Trump also claimed that Leo was elected only because he was American and that the cardinals chose him as the best way to deal with the U.S. president. The exchange marks an unusually direct public confrontation between a sitting U.S. president and the leader of the Catholic Church, which counts 1.4 (billion members) — global Catholic Church membership worldwide. Leo, originally from Chicago, is the first American pope and has emerged in recent weeks as an outspoken critic of what he called the "madness of war."

Pope invokes Gospel, refuses political debate with Trump Speaking to journalists on the flight from Rome to Algiers, where he is beginning a 10-day tour of four African countries, Leo drew a clear line between his role and political rivalry. „I don't think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing.” — Pope Leo XIV via Reuters He also addressed the human cost of ongoing conflicts directly. „Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there's a better way.” — Pope Leo XIV via Reuters The pope added that he did not see his role as political. „I am not afraid of the Trump administration. I speak of the Gospel and therefore I will continue to speak out loudly against the war.” — Pope Leo XIV via ANSA He also said he had no intention of entering into a debate with Trump. On Saturday, before Trump's post, Leo had already issued a peace appeal decrying the "madness of war," which Reuters reported was among the provocations that drew Trump's response.

Italian politicians across party lines rally behind the pontiff Italian political figures from the governing coalition and the opposition united in defending Leo XIV, with the sharpest rebuke of Trump coming from an unlikely source within the government. Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister, Infrastructure and Transport Minister, and leader of the right-wing League party, who has frequently praised Trump, told Telelombardia that attacking the pope was neither useful nor intelligent. „If anyone is working hard for peace and conflict resolution, it's Pope Leo. Attacking the Pope, a symbol of peace and a spiritual guide for billions of Catholics, doesn't seem like a useful or intelligent thing to do.” — Matteo Salvini via ANSA Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, said he harbored the greatest respect for the Holy Father and described him as "a strong, courageous man" who defends peace and the values of the Christian faith. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto expressed "respect, admiration, and affection" toward the pontiff on X. From the opposition, PD Secretary Elly Schlein expressed full solidarity with Leo XIV, calling Trump's attacks an "extremely serious act" that revealed "the culture of oppression of those who do not tolerate free voices." Matteo Renzi, leader of Italia Viva, called defending the pope a duty for laypeople and Catholics alike, describing Trump's attack as "shameful" and writing that it had been "centuries since such a blatant aggression against the Roman pontiff" had been seen.

Italian bishops and Turin mayor add their voices to the chorus The CEI issued a statement expressing "sorrow" over Trump's attack and called on all parties to respect the pope and his ministry. The Italian bishops aligned themselves with a statement by Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who said Leo was not a politician and not Trump's rival. The CEI described Leo as "the successor of Peter, called to serve the Gospel, truth, and peace," and said that in a time of conflict and international tension, his voice represented "a demanding call to human dignity, dialogue, and responsibility." Turin Mayor Stefano Lo Russo called Trump's statements "grave and unacceptable," saying that fueling conflict with divisive words was irresponsible, particularly from someone whose political choices had contributed to the current climate of tension. Lo Russo said Turin expressed full solidarity with the pope and called on all institutions and political forces to clearly distance themselves from Trump's remarks. The African tour Leo is beginning will take him through Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea over 10 days.

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, was elected in May 2025 following the death of Pope Francis, becoming the first American to lead the Catholic Church. The U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury, began on February 28, 2026, and resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the initial strikes. Leo has been among the most prominent international voices criticizing the conflict in the weeks since it began. The confrontation between Trump and the Vatican reflects broader tensions between the White House and religious institutions over immigration policy and the conduct of the Iran war.