politics
April 17, 2026
Trump tangles with an American pontiff
Leo addressed his public prayer that day to “Lord Jesus [who] conquered death without weapons or violence”; with shouts out to the other two persons of the Trinity in Christian theology (the “Spirit,” and the “Lord of Life”) as well as to “Mary, your mother, who stood at the foot of your cross with a broken heart, firm in the faith that you would rise again.”
TL;DR
- Pope Leo XIV delivered a message of peace and prayer, advocating for prayer as an active response to injustice.
- President Trump publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV's stance on crime and foreign policy, asserting the Pope's election was influenced by him.
- Trump's criticism included an AI-generated image and claims that the Pope caters to the "Radical Left."
- Bishop Robert Barron deemed Trump's comments "inappropriate and disrespectful" and called for an apology.
- The article contrasts Leo's approach with that of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who also clashed with Trump over issues like immigration and border walls.
- Pope Leo XIV continues to advocate for peace, unfazed by potential backlash or criticism.