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04/14/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/14/2026 03:28
Trump’s exchange with Pope Leo reflects deep rooted tensions between the Vatican and the United States: 4 essential reads
Trump's exchange with Pope Leo reflects deep rooted tensions between the Vatican and the United States: 4 essential reads
14 April 2026President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, the U.S.-born head of the Catholic Church, had an unusual and acrimonious public exchange over the weekend.
In a scathing attack on Truth Social, the social media platform he launched in 2022, Trump accused the pope of being "WEAK on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy." The lengthy post on April 12, 2026, told Leo to "focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician."
Later that night, Trump told reporters that he was "not a big fan of Pope Leo" and did not think the pope was "doing a very good job." Leo has repeatedly called for peace amid wars in the Middle East and described Trump's April 7 threat to destroy Iranian civilization as "truly unacceptable."
Several hours later, aboard a papal flight to Algiers - where he will begin a 10-day trip to Africa - Leo told reporters that he did not want to get into a debate with Trump, and that his words were not "meant as attacks on anyone." But striking a firm note, he said he had "no fear" of the Trump administration.
"I do not look at my role as being political, a politician," the pope said, adding, "I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among states, to look for just solutions to problems. 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 to do this.'"
The public nature of Trump's criticism may feel unprecedented. But there have long been tensions between the United States and the Vatican's effort to seek peace, as scholars writing for The Conversation have shown in past articles.
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For the full article co-written by Massimo D'Angelo visit the Conversation.
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Notes for editors
Press release reference number: 26/73
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