<\/p>\n
The clash between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV has flared up again, complicating a delicate diplomatic mission by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Vatican this week.<\/p>\n
The timing couldn\u2019t be worse for Rubio, who is due to arrive in Italy. He and Vice President JD Vance are both Catholics and potential Republican candidates for the 2028 presidential election. Trump\u2019s public fight with the pontiff risks alienating a key demographic.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters outside his residence near Rome Tuesday night, the pope said he would continue to preach peace and indirectly rebuffed the president, who said on Monday that the Catholic leader \u201cwould rather talk about the fact that it\u2019s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, and I don\u2019t think that\u2019s very good.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Their latest exchange resumes the sparring between the president and the first US-born pope that began after the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February. Unlike his predecessor, Francis, Leo had largely veered away from politics since becoming pope in May last year.<\/p>\n
That changed in April when Trump issued a post on his Truth Social threatening that a \u201cwhole civilization will die\u201d if Iran didn\u2019t capitulate to U.S. demands. Leo came out publicly to denounce the war and Trump amplified his criticism further.<\/p>\n
At the time, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took the pope\u2019s side and said Trump\u2019s words against him were \u201cunacceptable.\u201d Vance, a recent convert, defended Trump and said the pope should be careful. Rubio has largely sought to downplay the tensions and has said his trip to the Holy See was planned before the dispute.<\/p>\n
In his remarks in Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday, the pope pointed out that \u201cfor years, the Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt on that point.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pontiff also said that \u201cthe mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach peace. If someone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let him do so truthfully.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump, in his Monday interview with radio talk-show host Hugh Hewitt, said he thinks the pope is \u201cendangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people. But I guess if it\u2019s up to the pope, he thinks it\u2019s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2026 Bloomberg<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
#Trump #Pope #sparring #ahead #visit #Rubio<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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