President Donald Trump maintained a firm stance in his public dispute with Pope Leo XIV regarding the Iran conflict, asserting that the Pope should not interfere in politics.
In an interview with CBS on Monday, President Trump claimed the Pope was “wrong on the issues” and emphasized: “I don’t think he should be involved in politics.”
When asked about the possibility of direct communication with the Pope amid rising tensions, President Trump replied decisively: he has no plans to call.
The U.S. leader also stated it is unclear whether the Pope would visit the U.S. during his term, noting that the decision “is up to him.”
During the same interview, President Trump mentioned the removal of an AI image depicting him as Jesus Christ, calling the content misleading.
Previously, he had repeatedly criticized the Pope for being “weak on crime” and “unfit for foreign policy,” while continuing to defend his hardline stance on Iran. He insisted that Iran cannot be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.
For his part, Pope Leo XIV declared he is not intimidated by the U.S. administration and emphasized the Church's role in promoting peace.
Speaking on his plane bound for Algeria, he stated he would continue to speak out against war, calling for dialogue and multilateral cooperation between nations.
The Pope also stressed that the Church does not approach foreign policy like politicians, but rather based on the Gospel's message of peace.
Tensions between the two sides have drawn reactions from Europe. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the remarks aimed at the Pope “unacceptable.”
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini noted that these statements did not provide any benefit.
Before being elected Pope in May 2025, Leo XIV—born Robert Francis Prevost—had shared numerous posts criticizing the Trump administration's policies, including immigration and cooperation with El Salvador.
