\u201cI remember at the beginning of the Iraq War, Pope John Paul II was very vocal in his opposition against the Iraq War,\u201d Wenski said on Monday in Miami Shores. \u201cAnd I think, President Bush at that time certainly didn\u2019t agree with him, but he didn\u2019t rant about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Pope Leo XIV criticized the \u201cdelusion of omnipotence\u201d that is fueling the war in Iran, which continued into the seventh week. The head of the Catholic Church said, \u201cEnough of the display of power! Enough of war!\u201d <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TLGKV36I7XMKSXIDEYXXOBN3PU.jpg\")
Vatican Pope Peace Pope Leo XIV leads a vigil for peace inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo\/Gregorio Borgia) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Gregorio Borgia\/AP) <\/p>\n
TRUMP\u2019S \u2018RANT\u2019<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Trump took to Truth Social to write that Pope Leo was \u201cWEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.\u201d Trump wrote, \u201cI don\u2019t want a Pope who thinks it\u2019s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon\u201d and \u201cI don\u2019t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I\u2019m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do.\u201d <\/p>\n
Trump also wrote that the pontiff was elected \u201cbecause he was an American,\u201d so \u201cIf I wasn\u2019t in the White House, Leo wouldn\u2019t be in the Vatican,\u201d and added, \u201cLeo 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. It\u2019s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it\u2019s hurting the Catholic Church!\u201d<\/p>\n
Wenski said Pope Leo is likely unbothered by Trump\u2019s post. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t become a Pope without having developed a thick skin over the years, and certainly he will continue to witness the gospel to proclaim The Good News of Jesus Christ,\u201d Wenski said. <\/p>\n
TRUMP AND POPE ON MONDAY<\/p>\n
Trump criticizes Pope as ‘weak on crime’ <\/p>\n
Trump told reporters at the White House that he was not going to apologize for the post on Truth Social. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe was very much against what I\u2019m doing with regard to Iran, and you cannot have a nuclear Iran. Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the pope talked to reporters about Trump\u2019s post on Truth Social. <\/p>\n
\u201cI will continue to speak out strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems,\u201d the pope told reporters. <\/p>\n
THE CONTROVERSIAL IMAGE<\/p>\n
Trump faced criticism for sharing a graphic on Truth Social that depicted him as a Christ-like savior.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better,\u201d Trump told reporters at the White House. \u201cAnd I do make people better. I make people a lot better.\u201d<\/p>\n
The White House removed the image on Monday. <\/p>\n
Wenski said that while Trump is a Christian, he may not have intended for the photo to offend fellow Christians.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think he has much foundation in theology or anything like that to really understand all the nuances and the complexities of religious beliefs and religious feelings,\u201d Wenski said. <\/p>\n
Related stories<\/p>\n
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