On the evening of April 12, US President Donald Trump strongly criticized Pope Leo XIV, taking issue with the pontiff's position on the Iran War and characterizing him as “terrible for foreign policy,” adding “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo.”
Both Trump and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have invoked God in their public communications about the conflict. Hegseth has particularly framed military operations as divinely supported, citing scripture to support his position.
Trump went on to express his dissatisfaction with papal criticism, stating, "I prefer a pope who supports, rather than challenges, the President." Trump further alleged that Pope Leo was not a leading candidate for the papacy and was selected primarily due to his American citizenship, suggesting the Church believed this would be advantageous in dealings with his administration.
Pope Leo XIV, who holds the distinction of being the first American to assume the papacy, has become increasingly outspoken regarding the US-Israel war with Iran. Last week, he publicly rebuked Trump's inflammatory rhetoric and warnings directed at the Iranian people, characterizing them as "truly unacceptable." The pope's rebuke came in response to Trump's earlier declaration that "a whole civilization will die tonight."
But this wasn't the first time a president clashed with a religious leader. Click on to find out more.