Pope Leo XIV's criticism of Trump and their feud over Iran

Immigration was the first point of open disagreement. In November 2025, Leo called for "deep reflection" in the United States about the treatment of detained migrants and said they should be allowed access to pastoral workers.^[7] Weeks later he backed U.S. bishops who had condemned the administration's raids and mass deportations; he said he did not support open borders but called the treatment of migrants "extremely disrespectful."^[8] In January 2026, Cardinals Blase Cupich, Robert McElroy and Joseph Tobin urged the administration to adopt a "genuinely moral foreign policy," citing Venezuela, Ukraine and Greenland.^[9] In February, the Vatican's top diplomat, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the Holy See would not join Trump's "Board of Peace," adding that the United Nations should handle crisis situations,^[10] and in March Leo named Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Holy See's observer at the United Nations, as his ambassador to the United States.^[11]

The war in Iran turned the disagreement into a public feud. On Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, as the war entered its second month, Leo said God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars and have "hands full of blood."^[12] On April 7, hours after Trump said in a social media post that "a whole civilization will die tonight," Leo called threats against the population of Iran "unacceptable."^[1] He welcomed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran as a "sign of real hope,"^[13] and on April 11 he denounced the "delusion of omnipotence" fueling the war and demanded that leaders negotiate peace.^[14]

Trump answered with a lengthy social media post the next day, calling Leo "WEAK on Crime."^[2] Flying to Algeria at the start of an Africa tour, Leo told reporters that he did not fear Trump and that the Vatican's appeals for peace were rooted in the Gospel.^[2][15] Bishop Robert Barron called Trump's remarks "entirely inappropriate and disrespectful."^[2] The administration then pulled funding from a Catholic charity in Miami that shelters unaccompanied migrant children, according to WSVN.^[16] On April 18, Leo said it was "not in my interest at all" to debate Trump and that reports of his comments had "not been accurate in all its aspects."^[3] Rubio met the pope at the Vatican in May in a visit meant to ease the tensions.^[4] In September, asked about the Trump administration's attempt to bar U.S. news outlets from the White House, Leo told reporters they were welcome to cover him and affirmed the importance of journalists covering public figures.^[17]