President Trump refused to apologize to Pope Leo XIV while dismissing criticism regarding a controversial image post as disagreements over the Iran conflict continue to grow.
Speaking to the press, President Trump asserted there was no reason to apologize, claiming the Pope had made inaccurate assessments regarding U.S. policy toward Iran. Previously, he issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran demanding the reopening of critical maritime transport routes.
He emphasized that Iran must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons, warning of severe consequences if Tehran achieves this capability.
Earlier, President Trump posted an AI-generated image depicting him with religious elements, which was later deleted from social media. When questioned, he denied this interpretation, claiming it was just another illustrative image and criticized the media for misinterpreting it.
President Trump also continued to attack the Pope's stance, calling Pope Leo XIV “weak” on security and foreign policy issues.
In response, Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed his anti-war stance while criticizing the illusion of absolute power, calling for the promotion of peace, multilateral dialogue between nations, and fair solutions to conflicts.
The Pope stated he had no intention of engaging in political debate and emphasized that he is not under pressure from the U.S. administration.
Tensions between the two sides increased after the Pope criticized the U.S. military campaign in Iran and related policies, while President Trump reacted strongly through social media statements about attacking Iranian ships.
Relations between the U.S. administration and the Catholic Church continue to see disagreements, particularly on issues of war and immigration, escalating political tensions in many regions.
