Pontiff and senior government figures in Italy respond to latest attack from Trump.
US president Donald Trump’s renewed attack on Pope Leo XIV, accusing the pontiff of endangering Catholics, has provoked a rare public response from the Holy See and strong condemnation from senior Italian government figures.
Trump claimed that the pope was putting the lives of “many Catholics and many people” in danger, adding that the pontiff appeared comfortable with Iran possessing a nuclear weapon.
The remarks landed just days before a diplomatic visit to Rome by US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who is scheduled to meet both the pope and the Italian government.
Vatican reaction
Pope Leo XIV, speaking to journalists as he departed the papal retreat Castel Gandolfo, responded with measured firmness. “The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach peace,” he said. “If someone wants to criticise me for proclaiming the Gospel, let him do so truthfully.”
In response to Trump’s claim that the pope considers it acceptable for Iran to possess nuclear weapons, thereby placing all Catholics at risk, Leo said: “For years, the Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt on that point.”
Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin also weighed in. He said the pope “continues along his path, preaching the Gospel and peace,” whether opportune or not, and that his role was to “preach peace” regardless of whether that pleased everyone.
Italian government reacts
Foreign minister and deputy premier Antonio Tajani posted on X that attacks on the Holy Father were “neither acceptable nor helpful to the cause of peace,” pledging his support “for every action and word of Pope Leo”.
Transport minister and deputy premier Matteo Salvini told journalists: “The pope is not to be debated – he is to be listened to.”
Prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who is expected to meet Rubio separately, maintained silence ahead of that encounter, though she had previously described Trump’s earlier remarks about the Pope as “unacceptable.”
Trump had at that time fired back at Meloni directly, saying it was she who was unacceptable for not caring whether Iran acquired a nuclear weapon.
Rubio
Rubio, a Catholic, sought to defuse the tension in a briefing with journalists on Tuesday.
He said the papal visit had been planned before Trump’s latest remarks, acknowledging that “obviously we had some stuff had happened” in the meantime.
He distanced himself slightly from the president’s framing, saying he did not believe Trump’s characterisation of the pope’s position was accurate, but argued that the underlying concern – preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon – was legitimate.
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