politics
Rubio Defends Trump's Comments on Pope Leo Before Vatican Meeting
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back against characterizations of President Donald Trump's remarks accusing Pope Leo XIV of endangering Catholics over his stance on the Iran war. Rubio emphasized the risks of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, ahead of his Thursday meeting with the pope. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the Vatican.
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Al JazeeraAudio version
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended President Donald Trump's recent comments about Pope Leo XIV, stating that the president's remarks on the pope's stance toward Iran had been mischaracterized. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Rubio clarified that Trump's concern centered on the dangers of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, particularly in regions with large Catholic and Christian populations.
Rubio told reporters that he did not view the trip as an effort to smooth over disputes between Trump and the pope. He noted the visit was planned before the latest exchanges and would cover topics like religious freedom and shared concerns in the Middle East and Western Hemisphere.
The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See described the upcoming discussion as expected to be frank, emphasizing dialogue as a way to address disagreements between nations.
Trump made the comments during a Sunday interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, criticizing the pope for allegedly believing it is acceptable for Iran to have nuclear weapons. Trump stated that such a position endangers many Catholics and others. Multiple sources noted that the pope has not advocated for Iran to possess nuclear weapons but has opposed the war, which Trump describes as aimed at halting Tehran's nuclear program.
“The pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, and I don’t think that’s very good. I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people." — President Donald Trump, Sunday (Al Jazeera). The strains between Trump and Pope Leo XIV began in March when the pope spoke against the war in Iran and criticized using Christian rhetoric to justify military action. Tensions escalated in April, with Trump posting on social media that the pope was weak on crime and aligned with the radical left. In response, during a trip to Algeria, the pope vowed to continue promoting peace and dialogue, stating he would speak out against war despite criticisms.”
