Trump and Pope Leo Clash Over Iran War and Nuclear Claims
Trump publicly pressed Pope Leo XIV over Iran, asking why the pope would favor an Iranian nuclear weapon and citing alleged protester deaths, prompting rebukes from Catholic leaders and parishioners.
The Daily WireTrump Has Some Questions For Pope Leo
AlterNetBishop in Trump's Mar-a-Lago backyard gives sharp rebuke over spat with Pope Leo
Daily BeastTriggered Trump Fires Off Another Shot at Pope Leo
New York PostExclusive | Trump reveals his 2 burning Iran questions for Pope Leo after pontiff’s ongoing opposition to war
Overview
On Monday Donald Trump said he has two questions for Pope Leo XIV, asking why the pope 'thinks it is fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon' and accusing Iran of killing 42,000 protesters.
Pope Leo XIV criticized the war by calling leaders who wage armed conflict 'arrogant' and saying God 'does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war' during a Palm Sunday Mass on March 29.
Catholic leaders including Bishop Rodríguez and Archbishop Paul S. Coakley publicly rebuked Trump's attacks and urged prayer for the pope, and some parishioners said the spat distressed Catholic Trump supporters.
U.S. adult Catholics number around an estimated 50 million, about 20% of the population, while a U.S.-based rights group, HRANA, said more than 3,600 people had been killed since joint U.S.-Israeli bombing began in February.
Religious overtones intensified after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivered a March 25 Pentagon prayer invoking Jesus for Operation Epic Fury and after Trump posted and later deleted an April 12 Truth Social image.
Analysis
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