By ifeoma Onyekachi

Tensions between the White House and the Vatican have escalated after US President Donald Trump publicly criticised Pope Leo XIV, following the pontiff’s renewed call for global peace.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said he was “not a big fan” of the pope, describing him as “very liberal” and accusing him of being weak on crime and foreign policy.

The president also suggested the pontiff was undermining US security interests, alleging that the Catholic leader was “toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon,” in reference to Iran. He later reinforced his stance in a post on Truth Social, stating he did not want a pope who believed Iran should possess nuclear capabilities.

The remarks came a day after Pope Leo XIV, addressing worshippers at St. Peter’s Basilica, issued a passionate appeal for an end to global conflicts. “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!” the pope declared, urging world leaders to pursue dialogue over violence.

The exchange highlights growing ideological differences between Washington and the Vatican, particularly over the ongoing Middle East crisis. While the pope has consistently called for restraint and negotiations, Trump has maintained a more hardline posture.

Despite the public criticism, both sides have recently sought to downplay reports of a diplomatic rift. On Friday, the Vatican dismissed claims that a senior Pentagon official confronted the Holy See’s envoy to the United States.

The report, originally published by the Free Press and previously rejected by the Pentagon as “distorted,” alleged that Cardinal Christophe Pierre was summoned for a tense meeting with US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby. According to the report, the US official warned that Washington possessed overwhelming military power and expected the Church’s alignment.

However, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni firmly denied the account, stating that “the version of events reported by some media outlets does not correspond to the truth in any way.”

Nonetheless, underlying disagreements persist. The Vatican has openly criticised the Trump administration’s mass deportation policies, which Pope Leo described as “inhuman,” as well as the use of military force in regions including the Middle East and Venezuela.

The pope also rebuked recent rhetoric attributed to Trump regarding Iran, calling such statements “truly unacceptable” and urging all parties to return to negotiations.

Earlier this month, Pope Leo welcomed news of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran as a “sign of real hope.” However, diplomatic efforts suffered a setback after talks in Islamabad collapsed, with US Vice President JD Vance stating that Washington had presented its “final and best offer.”

The latest exchange underscores an increasingly rare and public clash between a US president and the leader of the Catholic Church, driven by stark differences over war, migration, and global diplomacy.