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Trump said he won't meet Pope Leo.
19:10, Thu, Apr 16, 2026 Updated: 19:44, Thu, Apr 16, 2026
Trump (Image: Getty)
US President Donald Trump has said he would not meet Pope Leo XIV and even issued a horrific nuclear warning as the conflict with Iran rumbles on.
Speaking to reporters before departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House, Mr Trump was asked if he was going to meet the Pope to "even out" differences. He replied, saying, "I don't think it's necessary."
Mr Trump was asked why he was "fighting" with Pope Leo XIV, and he replied, saying: "I have to do what's right. I have nothing against the pope. I’m not fighting with him. The pope made a statement saying Iran can have nuclear weapon."
The reporter pointed out the Pope did not say that, but Mr Trump seemed to ignore the comment. "I can disagree with the Pope. I have the right to do that," the US President added. The US President also said that "the Pope needs to understand Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, if they did every country, including Italy where he [the Pope] is stationed, will be in trouble".
Donald Trump refused to apologise to the Pope. (Image: Getty)
This week, Mr Trump posted several posts on Truth Social criticising the head of the Catholic Church and his NATO allies.
In one of his rants, he said the Pope was "weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy". His full message read: "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 criticises the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do... 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."
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni. (Image: Getty)
Mr Trump then refused to apologise and added Pope Leo XIV was "very weak on crime and other things," and said he had "nothing to apologise for - he's [the Pope] wrong".
Replying to Mr Trump, Pope Leo XIV said as he started a visit to Africa: "I am not afraid of the Trump administration. I speak of the Gospel, and therefore, I will continue to speak out loudly against the war. I have no intention of entering into a debate with him."
He also said: "God's heart is torn apart by wars, violence, injustice and lies," he said, explaining that his heart was "not with the wicked, the arrogant or the proud. God's heart is with the little ones and the humble, and with them he builds up his kingdom of love and peace day by day, just as you are striving to do here in your daily service, friendship and life together."
Mr Trump's comments also angered Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, who said: "I find President Trump's words about the Holy Father unacceptable. The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and condemn all forms of war."
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Recently, Mr Trump's supporters took to social media to share their disappointement with the latest messages the President published on Truth.
Users said “not trying to sound like a lefty here but, I’m done with Trump. Him posting this confirms he is trying to create a cult,” and “Mr. President, I totally support your actions as PRESIDENT, but this post is TERRIBLE. You are totally disrespecting the Christian men and women who have supported you. For once, I am very sad to say you disappointed me.”
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