Trump Renews Criticism of Pope Leo XIV Ahead of Rubio Visit to Vatican

President Donald Trump has renewed criticism of Pope Leo XIV, accusing the first American-born pontiff of helping Iran and making the world less safe. In a Monday interview with conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt, Trump said the pope would rather talk about it being acceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.

He added that he thought the pontiff was endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people. The pope has not said Iran should obtain nuclear weapons. He has called for more peace talks and criticized war with Iran generally as well as specific threats of mass civilian strikes.

The pontiff has emphasized that he is reflecting biblical and church teachings rather than acting as a political rival. Leo responded to the latest criticism by calling out the misrepresentation of his views. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the pope said the Catholic Church has for years spoken out against all nuclear weapons so there is no doubt there.

He doubled down on his call for peace and dialogue in the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, saying the mission of the church is to preach the Gospel and to preach peace. >"The mission of the church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace. " — Pope Leo XIV, May 2026 (Fortune) Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is scheduled to meet the pope on Thursday, downplayed the rift.

Rubio, a practicing Catholic, said Trump's criticisms were rooted in opposition to Iran potentially obtaining a nuclear weapon that could be used against millions of Catholics and other Christians. He told reporters at the White House that the whole world should be opposed to that possibility.

Rubio described the Vatican trip as one that had been planned from before and said there is a lot to talk about outside the feud, citing shared concerns about religious freedom in different parts of the world. He pointed to U.S. humanitarian aid distributed through the church in Cuba as an example of cooperation.

The meeting will mark the highest-level U.S. engagement with the pontiff since Trump began criticizing him.

The tension has spilled into Italian politics.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a social media post that Trump's latest comments criticizing the pope were neither acceptable nor helpful to the cause of peace. Tajani reaffirmed support for the pope's words as a testament to dialogue, the value of human life and freedom.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a longtime Trump ally, has taken exception to the comments about the pope. Trump in turn criticized her as his ire against NATO allies expands over what he sees as a lack of support for the Iran war. The Pentagon is planning to pull thousands of troops out of Germany in the coming months, with Trump suggesting more drawdowns from Italy and Spain could follow.

Meloni told reporters on Monday that reducing troops in Italy is a decision that does not depend on her but one she personally would not agree with. She said Italy has always fulfilled its obligations within the framework of NATO. Rubio is expected to meet with Meloni and Tajani on Friday after the Vatican visit.

A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released Wednesday found that 66 percent of Americans supported the pope advocating that citizens contact lawmakers and press for peace. The same survey found 57 percent felt negatively about Trump's remark that he does not want a pope who thinks it is acceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.

Trump has not backed down despite the backlash.

Trump lashed out at the pope on social media last month, saying he was soft on crime and terrorism for comments about the administration's immigration policies, deportations and the Iran war. The pope then said God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.

Trump later posted and then deleted a social media image likening himself to Jesus Christ, explaining that he thought the image was of him as a doctor. The dispute comes as Rubio has often been called on to tone down or explain the president's harsh rhetoric on Europe, NATO and the Middle East.

The president's dispute with the pope has domestic political implications in the U.S. with midterm congressional elections approaching. Rubio's visit follows at least two prior trips to Italy or the Vatican in the past year. Separately, French business leaders are pursuing economic diplomacy amid strained relations with Algeria and a global tariff war.

The head of France's main employers' union told RFI after a recent visit to Algeria that such efforts help stabilize important historic ties even as exports have fallen and other countries fill the gap.