Why Trump Dragged Pope Leo Into War Debate?

The rift between Washington and Vatican over Iran war is deepening with US President Donald Trump continuously insulting Pope Leo XIV for speaking against the war.

On Monday, the first ever US-born Pope opposed US President Donald Trump who lashed out at him on Sunday. After the weekend peace talks with Iran failed to get the desired result, Trump announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz from Monday.

On Sunday night, Trump insulted the pontiff and called him “WEAK on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy” in a post on TruthSocial. Responding to the comment, Pope Leo said that he isn’t afraid of the Trump administration and would continue to speak out against the war. The Pope made these comments en route to Algeria and said he doesn’t want to get into a debate with Trump.

Pope had been criticizing the Iran war since it began in February. He even called Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization “truly unacceptable” and asked him to find an “off-ramp” to end the conflict.

In Sunday’s post, Trump wrote that the Pope “should get his act together”. Not stopping at this, Trump also suggested that the pontiff was elected because he was American. “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”

On Saturday, speaking at a worldwide peace vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Pope Leo denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” that is fueling the US-Israel war in Iran. He demanded that the political leaders stop and negotitate peace. Pope Leo didn’t mention the US or President Donald Trump in his prayer, which was planned before the talks were announced. Leo’s message appeared to be hinting at Trump and US officials. “Enough of the idolatry of self and money!” Leo said. “Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”

During the initial days of the war, Pope Leo was reluctant to publicly condemn the violence and limited himself to muted appeals for peace and dialogue. However, he stepped up his criticism from Palm Sunday, when he remarked that Trump’s comment to destroy Iranian civilization was “truly unacceptable”.

Last year, the Chicago-born Pope called deep reflection on how migrants are treated in the US due to the controversial policy of mass deportation.

The Pope also warned that the US bombing of Venezuelan ships, on suspicion of transporting drugs, risked increasing tensions in the region.