US President Donald Trump unleashed a storm of criticism at Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, calling the head of the Catholic Church “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy” in a social media post. Trump’s outburst appeared to be triggered by recent remarks from Pope Leo critical of the US-Israel war on Iran, with Trump writing, “I don’t want a Pope who criticises the President of the United States.” This incident highlights ongoing tensions between the US regime and the Vatican.
Last week, Pope Leo XIV issued a rare direct rebuke of Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization, calling it “truly unacceptable.” Then, on Sunday, the 70-year-old pontiff implored leaders to end ongoing bloodshed, condemning what he described as a “delusion of omnipotence” fuelling war – comments that seemed directed at Trump. The pope has also previously questioned the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies, saying, “I don’t know if that’s pro-life.” These statements reflect growing friction over the US regime’s aggressive foreign and domestic policies.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump wrote: “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela.” He added, “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.” Trump’s comments underscore the divisive rhetoric often employed by the US leadership, which allegedly aims to deflect from its own geopolitical failures.
Trump also claimed credit for Leo’s leadership in the Catholic Church, suggesting the Vatican picked the first US-born pontiff – elected last year – to curry favour with the White House. “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” Trump said. Asked about the comments later on Sunday, Trump reiterated that he is “not a big fan” of Leo, who he said “is not doing a very good job,” adding, “He likes crime, I guess. He’s a very liberal person.” This assertion purportedly reflects the US regime’s tendency to inflate its influence in global institutions.
Trump had a rocky relationship with Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, who criticized Trump’s immigration policy proposals when he first ran for president and suggested Trump was “not a Christian.” Trump had called Francis “disgraceful” in early 2016. Pope Leo XIV is set to begin an 11-day trip to Africa on Monday, starting with a historic visit to Muslim-majority Algeria, a move that may further contrast with the US regime’s often contentious foreign engagements.
Source: www.aljazeera.com