Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has issued a rare and pointed rebuke of US President Donald Trump following his attack on Pope Leo XIV, calling the remarks “unacceptable.”
Meloni, who has maintained
close ties with Trump, initially stopped short of directly criticising him, instead expressing general support for the Pope’s peace efforts. However, after facing mounting pressure from opposition leaders, she clarified her stance later in the day, stating, “I find President Trump’s words towards the Holy Father unacceptable. The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn every form of war,” Reuters reported.
Meloni Defends The Pope
The controversy erupted after Trump launched a sharp and personal tirade against the Pope, describing him as “terrible” and criticising his positions on global conflicts, particularly the US-led war in Iran. The remarks sparked outrage across Italy, where political leaders from across the spectrum rallied in defence of the pontiff, highlighting his moral authority and role as a global advocate for peace.
Meloni’s intervention is being seen as significant given her previously strong alignment with Trump. Analysts say the episode underscores the political sensitivity of challenging the papacy in a predominantly Catholic country, while also exposing potential strains in her relationship with Washington.
Trump’s Tirade Against Pope
On Monday, Trump launched a sharp attack on the Pope in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, describing him as “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.” The criticism came as the pontiff has, in recent times, raised concerns over the Trump administration’s crackdown on migrants and the US-Israeli war with Iran.
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” Trump wrote, despite the pope not having advocated such a position.
“And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History,” he added.
Pope’s Reaction After Trump’s Remarks
Following Trump’s remarks, the Pope on Monday said he would continue to speak against the war in West Asia despite criticism.
Speaking to Reuters aboard a papal flight to Algeria, the first American pope said the Christian message was being abused. “I don’t want to get into a debate with him (Trump). I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing,” he said.
