‘If you wade into political waters’: Mike Johnson can’t control his own chamber but wants the Pope to know he’s dangerous

House Speaker Mike Johnson found himself in a public dispute with the Vatican on Wednesday, after he sided with President Donald Trump in his ongoing feud with Pope Leo XIV. Johnson told reporters that while the Pope is free to share his views on politics, he should “expect some political response” in return.

The tension started earlier this week when Trump lashed out at Pope Leo for criticizing the US-Israel war in Iran, calling him “terrible for foreign policy” and accusing him of being “weak on crime.” Trump also shared a social media post urging “someone to please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable.”

Johnson’s remarks on Wednesday appeared to back the White House’s position that the Pope should stay out of politics. “I’m not one to criticize clerics and religious leaders,” Politico quotes him. “We defend free speech, and we certainly defend the right, the free exercise of religion. A pontiff or any religious leader can say anything they want, but obviously, if you wade into political waters, I think you should expect some political response.”

Johnson’s stance is drawing pushback from within the Catholic community itself

Trump’s recent attacks on the Pope quickly drew criticism from other Catholics, including Bishop Joseph Strickland, who has previously been a strong supporter of Trump. According to the BBC, Strickland broke from his usual position and spoke out against the war in Iran, saying the issue is “not about politics, but about moral truth.” 

Johnson and Trump are not the only senior Republicans to clash with the Vatican, as JD Vance also recently warned the Pope against crossing lines on war. Strickland also pushed back on the White House’s handling of the war, saying, “It becomes very dark when religion is used to justify immoral behavior… using religion to justify especially dropping bombs is contradicting what the faith is about.” His comments highlighted a growing divide within the Catholic community over the war and its impact on civilians.

The Vatican also responded to the controversy. Rev. Antonio Spadaro SJ, Undersecretary for the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education, said the Pope’s opposition to the war is not about partisan politics but about moral principle. “There is an important difference between challenging a man and challenging the principle that makes war possible,” he said.

Spadaro also addressed the White House’s decision to delete a social media post that many saw as an attempt to undermine the Pope’s position. “If Leo were irrelevant, he would not deserve a word. Instead, he is invoked, named, opposed – a sign that his words matter,” he said. 

Spadaro added that “Pope Leo moves the Catholic debate away from a purely partisan track.” Pope Leo has also been vocal on other modern issues, including his concerns about the rise of AI and what it means for humanity.

The broader picture shows that the Pope’s message is gaining traction among many Catholics, including some who have traditionally supported Trump. As the dispute between the White House and the Vatican continues, it is becoming clear that the Pope’s words are carrying weight far beyond religious circles and into the heart of American political debate.