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Trump Accuses Pope Leo of 'Endangering' Catholics as Rubio Heads to Vatican
President Donald Trump accused Pope Leo of “endangering” Catholics, just days before Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet the pontiff at the Vatican.In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump repeated criticism of the head of the Catholic Church over what the U.S. President sees as his stance on Iran and the nuclear issue. "I think he's endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people,” Trump said. “But I guess it's up to the Pope. He thinks it's just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon." Pope Leo has not expressed support for Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon, but has been a vocal critic of Trump’s war in Iran, which the President has framed as an effort to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.Trump’s latest attack comes ahead of Rubio’s planned visit to Italy later this week, where he is expected to meet with the Holy See to discuss various topics, including the conflict in the Middle East and broader security issues.Rubio to have 'frank' discussions with Pope The Vatican confirmed that Rubio will meet Pope Leo on May 7 at the Apostolic Palace, with the visit coinciding with the first anniversary of Leo’s papacy on May 8.U.S. ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch said he expects the meeting to involve “frank” discussions."Nations have disagreements, and I think one of the ways that you work through those is (...) through fraternity and authentic dialogue," he said."I think the Secretary is coming here in that spirit," Burch told journalists. "To have a frank conversation about U.S. policy, to engage in dialogue.”The Pope has been sharply critical of both the Iran war and the Administration’s broader policies, including immigration.He has also called for dialogue in response to the continued U.S. blockade of Cuba, which has led to severe blackouts and fuel shortages in the Catholic-majority country.Leo’s criticism has drawn repeated responses from Trump, who has accused the pontiff of being “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy” after Leo called for a peaceful resolution to the Iran war.Trump also posted—and later deleted following an outcry—an AI-generated image depicting himself in a Jesus-like form. Both his attacks and posts have sparked a backlash among Christians and conservatives.U.S. President Donald Trump and an AI-generated picture he posted on his Truth Social platform, seemingly depicting himself as Jesus Christ. Mandel Ngan—Getty ImagesDespite the criticism, Trump has continued to target Leo, who i...
Marco Rubio defends Trump's false claim that Pope Leo wants Iran to ...
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied that his upcoming trip to the Vatican is an attempt to smooth over tensions with Donald Trump’s administration after the president lashed out at Pope Leo XIV and depicted himself as a Christ-like figure in a widely condemned social media post.But Rubio appeared to echo the president’s baseless allegations that Pope Leo supports Iran building a nuclear arsenal as the U.S. war with Iran stretches into a ninth week under a tenuous ceasefire.Asked whether he agrees with the president’s recent claim that the Pope’s urgent pleas for peace are endangering Catholics, Rubio told reporters at the White House that the statement is “not an accurate description of what he said.”“I think what the president basically said is Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon because they would use it in places where there’s a lot of Catholics and Christians and others, for that matter,” Rubio said Tuesday.“I think the president — without trying to speak for him — but I think I can characterize it this way. He doesn’t understand why anybody — leave aside the Pope — the president, and I, for that matter, I think most people, I cannot understand why anyone would think that it's a good idea for Iran to ever have a nuclear weapon,” he said.Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the Vatican amid Donald Trump’s ongoing feud with Pope Leo XIV (AFP via Getty Images)In his latest jab at the Catholic leader, Trump told the host of The Hugh Hewitt Show that the Pope “would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”“I don’t think that’s very good,” he said on Sunday’s broadcast with the right-wing media figure.“I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people, but I guess, if it’s up to the Pope,” he said. “He thinks it's just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”Rubio is traveling to Rome and the Vatican May 6-8 to “discuss the situation in the Middle East and mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere,” according to the State Department.Pope Leo has repeatedly urged for peace as the US wages war against Iran while Trump falsely accuses the pontiff of advocating for the regime to possess a nuclear weapon (AP)“The trip is really not tied to anything other than the fact it would be normal to engage with them,” Rubio told reporters Tuesday.But the meeting follows the president’s ongoing attacks against the pontiff, who has repeatedly urged nonviolence and pleaded for peace while the U.S. wages war with I...
Trump attacks Pope Leo again ahead of Marco Rubio's Vatican visit
Before returning to Rome from Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday, Pope Leo responded to journalists about President Trump's attack but without mentioning his name.
Trump escalates feud with pope as Rubio heads to Vatican - MSN
US President Donald Trump has intensified attacks on Pope Leo XIV, accusing him of 'endangering Catholics' over his stance on Iran, immigration, and foreign policy. The remarks come just days ...
