Pope says he has 'no fear' of Trump after scathing criticism

April 13, 2026

Pope Leo has responded defiantly to harsh criticism from President Trump, stating he has no fear of the administration and will continue advocating for peace. Trump attacked the Pope on social media and to reporters, calling him weak on crime and foreign policy while suggesting the pontiff was elected partly because he is American. The conflict stems from Pope Leo's vocal opposition to the US-Iran war, including his condemnation of Trump's threats against Iranian civilization and calls for an off-ramp to the conflict.

Who is affected

Pope Leo
President Donald Trump and his administration
Approximately 70 million Catholics in the United States (20% of the population)
Vice-President JD Vance (a Catholic)
Iranian civilians caught in the conflict
People suffering from global conflicts the Pope references
Catholics around the world who have criticized Trump's remarks

What action is being taken

Pope Leo is embarking on an 11-day trip to Africa
The Pope is continuing to speak out against war and promote peace
Trump is publicly criticizing the Pope via Truth Social posts and reporter statements
The Pope is using public addresses and speeches to denounce global conflicts and urge de-escalation in the Middle East
The Pope is criticizing violations of international law and neocolonial tendencies in his speeches

Why it matters

This conflict matters because it represents an unusual public confrontation between the US president and the leader of the Catholic Church, affecting over 70 million American Catholics. The dispute highlights fundamental disagreements over US foreign policy in Iran, with the Pope challenging the morality of threats to destroy Iranian civilization and calling for peaceful alternatives. The public nature of Trump's attacks is historically significant, with experts comparing it unfavorably even to relationships between popes and fascist dictators during World War Two, suggesting an unprecedented level of direct confrontation between these two influential global figures.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC