A composite photo of US President Donald Trump and Pope Leo. EXPAT MEDIA

Tensions between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV have escalated following renewed criticism from the US president over the Iran conflict. Trump claimed the Pope supported Iran having nuclear weapons, an assertion not backed by the pontiff’s public statements. “I have nothing against the pope… but I have to do what’s right,” Trump said in an interview, adding: “I say Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.” The Vatican has consistently opposed nuclear arms. Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly called for disarmament, continuing the teachings of Pope Francis, who described both the use and possession of nuclear weapons as immoral. He also called the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran as "atrocious". The US-born Pope had voiced his concern about Trump's threat that "a whole civilisation will die" if Iran did not agree to US demands to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz. The disagreement has developed into a rare public dispute between the White House and the Vatican, with US officials also criticising the Pope’s stance on global issues. During a visit to Cameroon, the Pope delivered a strong message against war, criticising leaders who "turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found". “The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild,” the Pope said. He also criticised leaders who spend heavily on conflict while neglecting social needs, saying the world is being “ravaged by a handful of tyrants.” "Peace is not something we must invent: it is something we must embrace by accepting our neighbour as a brother and as our sister," the Pope said.
Earlier this week, Trump launched a scathing attack on the Pope on social media, describing the leader of the Catholic Church as "weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy" while portraying himself as a Jesus-like figure. He later deleted the AI-generated image of himself. 
Despite the criticism, the Pope said he would continue to speak out for peace and humanitarian values. ICA/Expat Media
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