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Mission is to preach peace, says Pope in response to Trump attacks

May 5, 2026

Tensions have escalated between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo following Trump's repeated criticism of the pontiff's opposition to U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran. Trump falsely claimed the Pope supports Iran having nuclear weapons and accused him of being weak on crime and foreign policy, while the Pope has maintained his focus on preaching peace and the Gospel. The dispute has strained relations between Washington and the Vatican, and even affected Trump's relationship with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who defended the Pope.

Who is affected

  • Pope Leo (first US-born pontiff)
  • President Donald Trump and his administration
  • U.S. Catholics
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio
  • Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
  • Vice-President JD Vance
  • Brian Burch (U.S. ambassador to the Holy See)
  • The Vatican and Holy See
  • Iran (subject of the policy disagreement)
  • Israel (involved in Middle East conflict referenced)

What action is being taken

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio is heading to the Vatican for a two-day visit this week
  • Rubio is working to "advance bilateral relations" with Italy and the Vatican
  • Pope Leo is continuing to call for peace and preach the Gospel despite criticisms
  • Trump is posting statements on social media criticizing the Pope

Why it matters

  • This dispute matters because it represents a significant breakdown in diplomatic relations between the United States and the Vatican, two historically aligned powers. The conflict demonstrates how disagreements over Middle East policy—specifically regarding Iran and Israel—can fracture even long-standing international partnerships. Additionally, the tension is notable because Pope Leo is the first American-born pope, making the public feud between an American president and an American pontiff particularly unusual and potentially divisive for American Catholics.

What's next

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Vatican officials and Italian counterparts during his two-day visit
  • Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni indicated she expects to meet with Rubio during his visit
  • Rubio's meetings could provide an opportunity for the U.S. and Vatican to "talk through" their differences

Read full article from source: BBC