Pope Leo XIV has issued a direct response to Donald Trump, confirming that he doesn’t fear the current administration despite recent public criticism.
The pontiff made the remarks while traveling aboard the papal plane, following a weekend of escalating tensions between the Vatican and the United States government. In his latest escalation, Trump labeled the Pope as weak in a post on Truth Social.
Pope Leo emphasized that his focus remains on the mission of the Church rather than aligning with specific political agendas. As he explained, “I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for.”
He went on to add that “We are not politicians. We do not look at foreign policy from the same perspective that he may have. I will continue to speak out strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems.”
Trump has forgotten that we all have free speech
President Trump’s Sunday post on Truth Social also touched upon the history of the COVID-19 pandemic. He challenged the pope by suggesting that the Vatican ignored the FEAR felt by the Catholic Church and other Christian organizations during that time. The president specifically referenced the arrests of priests and ministers for holding church services, even when those services occurred outdoors with significant physical distancing.
These recent comments follow a period of intense strain between the Vatican and the United States. Former diplomat Richard Haass, the president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, recently characterized the relationship as being a 23 on a 1-to-10 scale.
During a discussion on Morning Joe Weekend, Haass expressed frustration regarding the current priorities of U.S. foreign policy. He noted that the government appears to be picking fights with democratic allies and the Catholic Church while taking a softer approach toward other nations.
Public reports have also surfaced regarding a January meeting between the Pentagon policy office head, Elbridge Colby, and Cardinal Christophe Pierre. Some reports alleged that Colby warned the then-envoy that the U.S. military possessed the power to act as it pleased and that the Church should align itself with the U.S. position. The reports further suggested that Colby invoked the historical period of the Avignon Papacy to emphasize this point.
The Pentagon has officially labeled these claims as grossly false and distorted. The Pentagon stated that the meeting was cordial and focused on the logic of the U.S. National Security Strategy, covering regions such as Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Both the Holy See Press Office and Cardinal Pierre himself have denied the accuracy of these reports, with the Cardinal calling them fabrications that were just invented.
The very real friction, though, is rooted in the pope’s vocal opposition to global military expansion. Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S. citizen elected to the papacy, has been active on the platform X to advocate for peace. In a post on Saturday, he remarked, “God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs. “
This stance has manifested in several high-profile disagreements. The Vatican declined to join the Gaza Board of Peace, an initiative led by President Trump intended to oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, explained that certain critical issues should be resolved, specifically noting that the United Nations should manage such crises.
Additionally, the pope has previously called for dialogue between the U.S. and Venezuela and has spoken out against the threat of removing President Nicolás Maduro from power. He also condemned a statement from the president regarding Iran, calling the threat that the entire civilization would die as truly unacceptable.
Published: Apr 14, 2026 09:05 am