US President Donald Trump has intensified his verbal attacks against Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff, accusing him of endangering Catholics and making the world less safe. Trump has repeatedly disparaged the Chicago-born pope, claiming his stance on Iran suggests he believes it is acceptable for Tehran to possess nuclear weapons. This conflict stems from the pope's condemnation of the US-Israeli war on Iran and his calls for peace in the Middle East.
Pope Leo XIV has denied the accusations that he supports Iran having nuclear weapons, stating that the US president is misrepresenting his views. While reaffirming his mission to preach peace, the pontiff acknowledged he accepts public scrutiny. Meanwhile, Trump has previously described the pope as weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy, and he faced widespread condemnation after depicting himself as a Christ-like figure in a social media post.
These tensions arise just days before Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a devout Catholic, visits the Vatican this Thursday and Friday. While some suggest the trip is an attempt to smooth over relations, Rubio has denied this, characterizing the visit as part of regular engagement with the Holy See that was planned before the current dispute. Despite these assurances, Vatican officials have described the current state of relations with the United States as an unprecedented low.