Pope Leo XIV responded to Donald Trump's criticism and reaffirmed the Church's stance against nuclear weapons

Pope Leo XIV, speaking to journalists in Castel Gandolfo, emphasized that the main mission of the Church remains the preaching of the Gospel and the promotion of peace, and urged critics to base their remarks on truth. According to Vatican News, the pontiff commented on recent harsh remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that touched on international security and the Church’s position.

During the conversation, which took place on the evening of May 5, 2026, Pope Leo refuted the American leader’s claims that the Vatican allegedly considers it acceptable for Iran to possess nuclear weapons. «The Church has been opposed to any nuclear weapons for many years and there is no doubt about it,» the Pope said in response to Trump’s statements about the possible danger to Catholics. The pontiff expressed hope that his words would be heeded for the sake of the values of God’s word, noting that his desire for peace has remained unchanged since the beginning of his ministry.

An important step in resolving the misunderstanding that has arisen should be a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, scheduled for Thursday morning, May 7. «I hope it will be a good dialogue,» Pope Leo XIV said, emphasizing the need for openness and mutual respect for a deep understanding of the positions of both sides. Despite the current polemics with the US administration, the head of the Catholic Church expressed readiness for a constructive discussion of current problems of the world agenda.

Recall, earlier US President Donald Trump made a harsh statement against Pope Leo XIV, calling him «absolutely incompetent in matters of foreign policy». The reason for criticism were the pontiff’s statements regarding the war with Iran and American foreign policy in general.