Last week, Pope Leo XIV stated that Donald Trump’s actions in Iran are “provoking more hatred” and that he could be acting against international law if he struck civilian infrastructure. Now, the president has hit back at the American pope with a shocking claim.

Pope Leo has been very vocal about how much he opposes the war in Iran, not least the actions of President Donald Trump. During a prayer service at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, he called out the “delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive.”

Pope Leo said, “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life.

Moreover, a few days earlier, Pope Leo had urged Trump and the other world leaders included in the conclift to take a step back.

“I would simply say, once again, what I said in the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message on Sunday: asking all people of goodwill to search, always, for peace and not violence; to reject war, especially a war which many people have said is an unjust war, which is continuing to escalate and which is not resolving anything,” the American-born pope said.

Pope Leo criticized Donald Trump over Iran war

He further stated that the situation in the Middle East is “only provoking more hatred,” urging leaders to “come back to the table” to find a peaceful solution. Leo also reminded Donald Trump that striking civilian infrastructure is against international law.

“Let’s remember especially the innocent children, the elderly, the sick, so many people who have already become or will become victims of this continued warfare,” Pope Leo continued, calling on citizens of all countries to contact their political leaders and “tell them to work for peace and to reject war.”

Now, Donald Trump has responded, and did so in his somewhat trademark way. On social media, the U.S president lashed out against Pope Leo’s criticism over the war in Iran, calling the leader of the Catholic Church “weak” on crime as well as being “terrible” for foreign policy.

“I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump fires back at Pope Leo

He also claimed that Pope Leo shouldn’t be a pope if it weren’t for Donald Trump himself.

“Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise,” Trump added. “He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”

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