Pope Leo Fires Back at Trump: «The Church Has Spoken Out Against All Nuclear Weapons»

The pope has directly responded to accusations from Trump, who claimed that the head of the Catholic Church was «endangering a lot of Catholics» because of his opposition to the U.S. president’s actions that led to the war in Iran. The remarks came after a series of public attacks from Trump, who said «I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people. But I guess if it’s up to the pope, he thinks it’s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.» The comments marked a further escalation in an already tense and highly public dispute between the two figures.

Speaking to journalists while leaving a papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, Pope Leo XIV addressed the criticism directly, rejecting Trump’s claims and clarifying the Church’s position. «If anyone wants to criticise me for proclaiming the gospel, let them do so with the truth: the church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, there is no doubt about that.» he said. The pope’s response emphasized long-standing Catholic doctrine opposing nuclear arms, directly contradicting Trump’s assertion that he supported Iran obtaining such weapons.

The pope went further in outlining the role of the Church in global conflicts, stressing that his position was rooted in a broader mission rather than political alignment. «The mission of the church is to preach the gospel, to preach peace.» he said, before adding «I simply hope to be listened to because of the value of God’s word.» His remarks framed the dispute as one grounded in moral and theological principles, rather than geopolitical strategy, as he continued to advocate for de-escalation and dialogue amid the ongoing war.

The public exchange comes at a sensitive diplomatic moment, as the Vatican prepares to host U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for a private audience with the pope. Rubio acknowledged the significance of the meeting, stating there was «a lot to talk about with the Vatican». The visit is expected to address a range of issues, including the war in Iran and broader humanitarian concerns, as tensions between Washington and the Vatican continue to draw international attention.

Relations between Trump and Pope Leo XIV have steadily deteriorated over the past several months, evolving from policy disagreements into personal and ideological clashes. The friction began in November 2025 when the pope criticized U.S. deportation policies, saying migrants were being treated with «extreme disrespect» and urging the administration to «seek ways of treating people with humanity.» The divide deepened in April 2026 after U.S. airstrikes in Iran, which the pope condemned as an «exhibition of force» in a world he said was being «ravaged by a handful of tyrants.»

Trump responded at the time with direct attacks on social media, calling the pope «WEAK on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy.» By May, his rhetoric intensified further, claiming in a radio interview that «the Pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.» While the Vatican has stated that the pope «has no intention of debating» the president, Leo XIV has continued to use his platform to advocate for peace, maintaining a consistent message even as the political confrontation between the two leaders continues to escalate.