Trump blasts Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social: “Weak on crime" and foreign policy

President Donald Trump took aim at Pope Leo XIV in a Truth Social post on Sunday night following recent comments from the pontiff, and took credit for the Illinois native’s elevation to the papacy. 

His post comes a day after Leo hosted a Prayer Vigil for Peace in which he criticized the "delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive."

Big picture view:

In his post on Truth Social, Trump described Leo as "weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy." He went on to say that he liked the pope’s brother Louis better, claiming that the Port Charlotte, Florida, resident is "all MAGA."

"I don’t want a pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon," Trump continued. "I don’t want a pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country."

"Leo should be thankful"

In his post, Trump argued that the pope should be thankful to him. The president argued Leo was not considered as a top candidate following the death of Pope Francis. 

"Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise," Trump wrote. "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."

Pope Leo’s comments

"Enough of the idolatry of self and money!  Enough of the display of power!  Enough of war!  True strength is shown in serving life," Leo said during the vigil, which was held at St. Peter's Basilica.

Saturday's prayer vigil was scheduled before the peace talks between the U.S. and Iran in Pakistan that were happening on the same day, the Associateed Press reported.

At a later point in his speech, Leo directed his words towards "the leaders of nations," and said, "To them we cry out: Stop! It is time for peace!  Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided!"

Dig deeper:

Saturday's comments were some of the first American pontiff’s strongest words since he called President Donald Trump’s threat against Iran on Tuesday "truly unacceptable," FOX News reported.  

The pope's response came after Trump wrote on Truth Social, "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will... God Bless the Great People of Iran!"

Trump's full Truth Social post

What they're saying:

Here is the full text of President Trump’s post:

"Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy. He talks about "fear" of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart. I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA. He gets it, and Leo doesn’t! I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country. And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History. Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. 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. If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican. Unfortunately, Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left, who is one of those who wanted churchgoers and clerics to be arrested. Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church! President DONALD J. TRUMP"

Trump AI Jesus-figure

On Monday, Trump shared an image on Truth Social that appeared to be AI-generated and likened him to a Jesus figure. 

The image shows Trump in a white robe with red cloth, with beams of light coming from his hands as he rests a palm on a sick man's forehead. 

The photo was deleted several hours later, and Trump said during an impromptu news conference with a Door Dash driver that he meant the photo to be him as a doctor. 

"I did post it and I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with Red Cross, there’s a Red Cross worker there," he said. "It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better, and I do make people better. I make people a lot better."

Pope Leo responds

Meanwhile:

Later on Monday, Pope Leo XIV spoke with The Associated Press aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria. 

He said the Vatican's peace appeals were rooted in the Gospel, and that his general appeal for peace and criticisms of the "delusion of omnipotence" that he said was fueling the Iran war was not a direct attack on Trump or anyone else.

What they're saying:

"To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is," Leo said. "And I’m sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today."

Speaking to other reporters, he added: "I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for.''

"We are not politicians. We do not look at foreign policy from the same perspective that he may have,'' the pope said, adding, "I will continue to speak out strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems.

"Too many people are suffering today, too many innocent people have been killed, and I believe someone must stand up and say that there is a better way,'' he said.