Pope Leo says ‘we can live in peace’ amid spat with Trump

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday doubled down on his message amid President Trump’s criticism of the pontiff over his comments on the war in Iran.

“We have different beliefs, we have different ways of worshipping, we have different ways of living, we can live together in peace,” he told reporters on the papal plane, according to CNN.  

“I think that to promote that kind of image is something which the world needs to hear today,” he added. 

Over the weekend, Trump characterized Pope Leo as “WEAK” on crime and “terrible” for foreign policy, prompting harsh pushback from both sides of the aisle.

“I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA. He gets it, and Leo doesn’t! 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…” the president added in a Sunday Truth Social post, referencing the Catholic leader’s brother.

The pontiff, in recent weeks, has spoken out against the war in Iran and called for peace. He has said he is not afraid to speak out against the conflict amid the president’s criticism.

Some allies of Trump have come to the president’s defense, however. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday said he was “taken aback” by Pope Leo’s political comments about the war.

“A pontiff or any religious leader can say anything they want, but obviously, if you wade into political waters, I think you should expect some political response, and I think the pope’s received some of that,” Johnson said at a press conference. “I was taken a little bit aback, just honestly, frankly by something that he said several days back.”

Vice President Vance, a Catholic, also criticized Pope Leo and defended the president.

“I don’t think that it’s particularly newsworthy, but I certainly think that in some cases it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality, to stick to matters of what’s going on in the Catholic Church and let the president of the United States stick to dictating American public policy,” he said Tuesday.

Pope Leo’s religious style of leadership closely resembles Pope Francis, who spoke out against anti-immigration hardline stances among other political topics. The late pontiff was frequently criticized by Trump.

The current pontiff’s Wednesday comments were made following his visit to the Great Mosque of Algiers, where he silently prayed and admired the historical site of Saint Augustine of Hippo’s works. 

“His invitation to search for God and for truth is something that is very much needed today,” Pope Leo said, per CNN. He is the first pontiff to visit the mosque, which is the largest in Africa. 

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