23 resultsfor “Pope Leo response to Trump criticism”
response by Trump and other Republican leaders and supporters to criticism from [Pope Leo XIV](https://www.theguardian.com
Pope Leo had condemned the US president’s threat that Iran’s “civilisation will die” if it didn’t re-open the Strait of Hormuz. In response to that, Trump unleashed a storm of criticism
response to the pope’s criticisms of the war on Iran, calling Leo “weak on crime” and “terrible on foreign policy” and saying he had only been elected pontiff because Trump
Trump got “over his skis a little bit” in his criticism of [Pope Leo XIV](https://www.theguardian.com/world/pope-leo-xiv), but Sullivan said he rejected the idea that the US president’s comments in response
Critic of the Iran war Pope Leo also condemned the [killing of protestors in Iran](/news/2026/1/21/at-least-3117-people-killed-during-iran-protests-state-media-reports) earlier this year, after president Trump attacked the Catholic leader for not speaking out on the subject whilst criticising
Trump accused Leo in a lengthy social media post of being "weak on crime" following the pope's continued appeals for peace and nuclear disarmament. Speaking on "The Hugh Hewitt Show
response to Catholic leaders' [calling for more humanity](https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5784841) in the Trump administration's immigration policies. Trump also claimed Leo was in favor of Iran having nuclear weapons. Trump continued his attacks Tuesday
Trump has become entangled in a very public row with Pope Leo XIV, who has been critical of the US war with Iran. The US president has slammed the pope for being “weak” on crime
Pope Leo after Trump's criticism *Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter.*[Subscribe](https://www.npr.org/newsletter/news)*here to get it delivered to your inbox, and*[listen](https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510318/up-first/)*to the Up First podcast
Pope Leo.](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/14/trump-accuses-ally-meloni-of-lacking-courage-for-not-joining-attacks-on-iran) She also denied the use of an airbase in Sicily to US military planes carrying weapons for the war in Iran after the US did not follow the required authorisation
criticism that he did not fear the [Trump administration](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/trump-administration) and would continue to speak out against war. Trump’s attack came after Leo denounced a “delusion of omnipotence” as fuelling
Pope Leo weighs in on AI's rise *Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter.*[Subscribe](https://www.npr.org/newsletter/news)*here to get it delivered to your inbox, and*[listen](https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510318/up-first/)*to
response”. “Donald Trump’s statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly stunned,” she said. “I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies. After all, this
response to Trump attacks Pope Leo has responded to attacks by US President Donald Trump, saying he hoped to be able to preach the Gospel and about peace, but anyone was free to criticise
response from @SecRubio. This should be everyone’s hope and vision for America.” Rubio, a former senator for Florida, ran for president in 2016 only to be humiliated by Trump with the disparaging nickname “Little
Trump](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/16/nx-s1-5787753/pope-leo-takes-trump-war-tyrants-iran-africa) In his speech, Leo denounced how military spending had increased dramatically this year, especially in Europe, at the expense of education and healthcare, while "enriching elites who care nothing
response from Spain, which [has denied the US permission to use](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/02/spain-denies-united-states-permission-military-bases-iran-pedro-sanchez) jointly operated military bases on its territory for attacks on Iran and been the most outspoken EU critic of Trump
responsibility for the president’s return to power. “You and I and everyone else who supported him – you wrote speeches for him, I campaigned for him – I mean, we’re implicated in this for sure
Leo, with headlines using words such as ‘outrage’, ‘shock attack’, ‘insult’ and ‘Trump’s schism’](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c0fd1f1d9078d64fae368459867c4b424eaaa4f4/0_0_8326_5551/master/8326.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none) Donald Trump’s comments about the pope were not warmly received in Italy. Photograph: Domenico Stinellis/AP Italy
critic of the prosecution effort, at one point [comparing it to the Holocaust](https://www.npr.org/2025/08/22/nx-s1-5507078/trump-holocaust-doj-jonathan-gross-jan-6). His work on Jan. 6 cases helped raise his profile among Trump allies, drawing the attention of former Congresswoman