Donald Trump's remarks about Pope Leo XIV were 'unacceptable', Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said. The US president accused the pontiff of being 'WEAK on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy' in a long Truth Social post, later telling reporters he was 'not a big fan'. 'The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn every form of war,' Meloni said in a statement.
Meloni, a Catholic and leader of a right-wing coalition government, is a close ally of Trump and had previously been reluctant to condemn his criticisms of the Pope. Italian opposition parties have criticized Meloni for failing to speak out promptly. Her coalition partner Matteo Salvini, the leader of the League party, stated that 'attacking the Pope... doesn't seem like a useful or intelligent thing to do.'
After Trump's remarks, the Pope told reporters in Algeria that he did not want to get into a debate with Trump but would continue to promote peace, expressing his lack of fear regarding the Trump administration. He has been a staunch critic of the Iran war and urged for a de-escalation of conflicts.
Trump's comments prompted backlash from worldwide Catholics, as many expressed their discontent with the former president's direct attacks on the Papacy. Not even historical tyrants like Hitler or Mussolini have vocally attacked the Pope in such a manner, a sentiment echoed by prominent Italian Catholic commentator Massimo Faggioli.
Overall, the tension between Trump and Pope Leo XIV remains a focal point in current political discourse, raising questions regarding the interplay between faith, leadership, and international relations.
Meloni, a Catholic and leader of a right-wing coalition government, is a close ally of Trump and had previously been reluctant to condemn his criticisms of the Pope. Italian opposition parties have criticized Meloni for failing to speak out promptly. Her coalition partner Matteo Salvini, the leader of the League party, stated that 'attacking the Pope... doesn't seem like a useful or intelligent thing to do.'
After Trump's remarks, the Pope told reporters in Algeria that he did not want to get into a debate with Trump but would continue to promote peace, expressing his lack of fear regarding the Trump administration. He has been a staunch critic of the Iran war and urged for a de-escalation of conflicts.
Trump's comments prompted backlash from worldwide Catholics, as many expressed their discontent with the former president's direct attacks on the Papacy. Not even historical tyrants like Hitler or Mussolini have vocally attacked the Pope in such a manner, a sentiment echoed by prominent Italian Catholic commentator Massimo Faggioli.
Overall, the tension between Trump and Pope Leo XIV remains a focal point in current political discourse, raising questions regarding the interplay between faith, leadership, and international relations.
