Vatican hits back at U.S. claim that Pope Leo speaks as a politician

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Democracy Dies in Darkness

President Donald Trump's ambassador had sought to portray the pontiff as the political leader of the Holy See. The Vatican swiftly said he is “proclaiming the Gospel.”

July 13, 2026 at 8:46 a.m. EDT14 minutes ago

Pope Leo XIV speaks to the crowd gathered in front of the Apostolic Palace on the outskirts of Rome on Sunday. (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Days after the Trump administration’s top diplomat to the Holy See sought to play down Pope Leo XIV’s criticism of the U.S. war in Iran, a senior Vatican official on Monday issued a rare public rebuttal, arguing that when the pope speaks forcefully about war, migrants and other topics, he is officially “proclaiming the Gospel.”