US President Donald Trump has reignited his public dispute with Pope Leo XIV, just days before Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to travel to the Vatican in an effort to mend ties. In an interview with conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt, Trump claimed the first American-born pontiff is effectively helping Iran and making the world “less safe” by focusing on migrant rights rather than Tehran’s nuclear program.
“The pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “I don’t think that’s very good. I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people.” The pope has never endorsed Iran acquiring nuclear arms; instead, he has repeatedly called for renewed peace talks and criticised Trump’s threats of mass civilian strikes against Iran.
Vatican Rejects Misrepresentation
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Pope Leo XIV pushed back firmly against Trump’s characterisation. “The Catholic Church for years has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt there,” he said. The pontiff emphasised that his calls for peace and dialogue in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran are rooted in biblical and church teachings, not political rivalry. “The mission of the church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace. If someone wants to criticise me for announcing the Gospel, let him do it with the truth,” he added.
Rubio, a practising Catholic, attempted to downplay the rift, arguing that Trump’s criticism stems from a genuine fear that a nuclear-armed Iran could threaten millions of Christians. “The whole world should be opposed to that,” Rubio said. His visit to the Vatican—his third to Italy or the Holy See in the past year—is now under a cloud of diplomatic tension.
Italian Government Takes Sides
The dispute has spilled into Italian domestic politics. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a longstanding Trump ally, has publicly taken exception to the US president’s remarks about the pope. Trump, in turn, has criticised Meloni as his frustration with NATO allies grows, particularly over what he perceives as insufficient support for US military operations. The Pentagon recently announced plans to withdraw thousands of troops from Germany in the coming months, a move that has further strained transatlantic relations.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani was blunt in his response. In a social media post, he called Trump’s comments “neither acceptable nor helpful to the cause of peace.” Tajani added: “I reaffirm my support for every action and word of Pope Leo; his words are a testament to dialogue, the value of human life, and freedom. This is a vision shared by our government, which is committed through diplomacy to ensuring stability and peace in all areas where conflicts exist.”
Rubio is expected to meet with both Meloni and Tajani on Friday, in addition to his Vatican appointment. The meetings will test whether the US can maintain working relationships with key European allies while the president continues to attack the spiritual leader of millions of Catholics across the continent.
The broader context includes ongoing tensions over US troop deployments in Europe and trade disputes. As German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Trump clash over the planned withdrawal, and EU and US trade chiefs prepare to meet over threatened auto tariffs, the pope’s feud with Trump adds another layer of complexity to Washington’s relationship with Europe.
