Trump’s attack on Pope Leo has been roundly condemned in Italy, both on social media and among the country’s top politicians. Here’s what they are saying.
When US president Donald Trump launched a scathing attack against Pope Leo XIV on social media on Sunday night, he sparked widespread condemnation around the world, particularly in Italy.
Trump accused Leo of being “weak” and “terrible” in an unprecedented tirade against the first American-born pontiff, amid tensions over the US-led war against Iran, even claiming that he was personally responsible for Leo being elected pope.
Trump later doubled down on his criticism, telling reporters that he was “not a big fan of Pope Leo”, before posting an AI-generated image of himself seemingly dressed as Jesus Christ in the act of healing the sick.
This sparked further indignation and upset around the world – from Catholics as well as those of other faiths and none – with many accusing Trump of blasphemy.
The outcry was particularly strong in Italy, a predominantly Catholic country whose capital hosts the pope’s home in Vatican City.
In response to the attack, Pope Leo told reporters that he is not afraid of the Trump administration and will continue to speak out for peace, insisting that he would “not shy away from pronouncing the message of the Gospel.”
Italian politicians react
Condemnation of Trump’s actions came from across the political spectrum in Italy, including from within the rightwing government which has generally positioned itself as a close ally to the US president.
“If anyone is working hard on the issue of peace and resolving the conflict, it’s Pope Leo” – deputy premier and rightwing Lega leader Matteo Salvini told Telelombardia, without mentioning Trump by name – “Attacking the pope, a symbol of peace and spiritual guide for billions of Catholics, doesn’t seem like a useful or intelligent thing to do”.
At the time of writing on Monday afternoon, prime minister Giorgia Meloni has not addressed the issue directly – despite coming under pressure to do so – limiting herself to wishing Pope Leo well as he departed on his 11-day trip to Africa.
In a statement, she expressed the hope that “the Holy Father’s Ministry may foster the resolution of conflicts and the return of peace, both internally and between nations, following the path traced by his predecessors, and may provide support and comfort to the Christian communities he will meet during his journey.
Likewise, Italy’s president Sergio Mattarella stressed the theme of peace in his message to the departing pontiff, highlighting “the strong call for peace, so urgent in such troubled times, as well as the invitation to unity and fraternity.”
Foreign minister and deputy premier Antonio Tajani of the centre-right Forza Italia party said he has “the greatest respect for the Holy Father”, hailing him as “a strong, determined man” who has spoken of faith and peace since the day he was elected pope.
In a post on X, Rome’s centre-left mayor Roberto Gualtieri expressed the Eternal City’s closeness to its bishop, Pope Leo, describing Trump’s attack against him as unacceptable.
Elly Schlein, leader of the opposition centre-left Partito Democratico (PD), expressed “full solidarity” with Leo, noting that “with his attacks and threats against the Pope, President Trump is taking the arrogance that has characterised him to this point beyond all tolerance.”
Matteo Renzi, former prime minister and leader of the centrist Italia Viva party, stated: “Trump is attacking the Pope. Defending Leo XIV is now a duty not only for Catholics but also, and above all, for the laity. It’s been centuries since we’ve seen such blatant aggression against the Roman Pontiff. He is, in fact, a “bridge builder,” unlike Trump, a destroyer of relationships and civilizations.”
Angelo Bonelli of the Green-Left Alliance and Europa Verde, accused Meloni of being “shamefully silent on Donald Trump’s attack and blasphemy”, stating: “As a Catholic I am outraged by a premier who refers to Christian values but lacks the strength and courage to condemn Trump’s unacceptable blasphemy against the Pope and the Catholic world, which also involves the secular world with serious political consequences.”
“Trump is now a president out of control, and it is legitimate to question whether he is capable of discernment” – Bonelli charged – “Trump, publishing images of himself dressed as the Pope and now as Jesus while offering his ‘divine touch’ to the sick, is proof not only of his blasphemy, but of the loss of all limits and balance.”
Photo credit: Fabrizio Maffei / Shutterstock.com
