U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV on social media, calling the pontiff “weak,” “terrible,” and “very liberal” in comments tied to the ongoing war involving Iran.
In a lengthy social media post made around 3 am on Sunday, Trump said he was “not a fan” of the U.S.-born pope and accused him of failing in leadership. The remarks mark a rare moment in modern history when a national leader has so directly criticized the Bishop of Rome, who is a head of state.
Some three hours after his post on the Pope, Trump posted an AI image of himself as Jesus seeming to heal a person.
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, rebuked Trump’s remarks in brief but pointed terms.
I am disheartened that the President chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father. Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls.
The president's post follows many comments from Pope Leo about peace -- focusing on a variety of conflicts and wherever the world is at war -- from the Middle East, to Ukraine and on Sunday, Sudan. He led a global Prayer Vigil for Peace on Saturday evening.
Trump's lengthy post spoke of Iran and Venezuela and even the Pope's brother, saying: "I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE ..."
He later added comments to reporters, framing the Pope’s position as permissive toward nuclear escalation.
“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” Trump claimed, urging the pope to “focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.”
While tensions between the Vatican and political leaders are not new, direct personal criticism at this level remains rare.
Popes consistently speak on political situations since politics is ultimately about how we order life together as human beings, and the Church's role is to defend human dignity in all situations.
For his part, Pope Leo has just departed for a 10-day trip to Africa, where he will visit four countries. He appeared unfazed by President Donald Trump’s unusually direct criticism, telling reporters Monday on his flight to Algeria that he had “no fear” of the Trump administration and would keep proclaiming the Gospel “loudly,” adding a dry aside about Trump’s Truth Social post: “It’s ironic — the name of the site itself. Say no more.”
[Update: As the United States awoke to news of the president's post, and then of Leo's responses, various bishops began to make statements, echoing that of Archbishop Coakley. One of note is Bishop Barron's, here.]
