After Donald Trump once again criticized Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Vatican responded by asserting that he has never supported nuclear weapons. The Pope also said that critics should speak truthfully in response to Trump’s claims that the Pope’s stance on Iran was “endangering a lot of Catholics.” The two figures have publicly disagreed on several issues in recent months.
Pope Leo rejects Donald Trump’s ‘nuclear weapon’ claims
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born Pope of the Vatican, responded to President Donald Trump’s sharp criticism by stating that he has never supported nuclear weapons. He also said that critics should represent his position accurately.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday night after leaving the papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo near Rome, Pope Leo said, “The mission of the church is to preach the gospel, to preach peace.” He then addressed Trump’s recent comments.
“If anyone wants to criticise me for proclaiming the gospel, let them do so with the truth: the church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, there is no doubt about that,” the Pope said (via The Guardian), “I simply hope to be listened to because of the value of God’s word.”
Pope Leo XIV is also expected to meet Marco Rubio at the Vatican on Thursday. He is the US Secretary of State. The meeting, reports suggest, is an effort to ease tensions with the president.
Shortly before the Pope’s response, Trump told Hugh Hewitt, a conservative radio talk show host, that the Pope supported Iran having nuclear weapons. “The pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, and I don’t think that’s very good,” Trump said. “I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people. But I guess if it’s up to the pope, he thinks it’s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
Originally reported by Sourav Chakraborty on Mandatory.
