Trump blasts Pope Leo in new social media post

[aussie_aussie_oi_oi]

Trump has lashed out at Pope Leo in a post to Truth Social on Sunday, saying the first American pope should “stop catering to the Radical Left.”
It was an extraordinary broadside against the global leader of the Catholic Church, exacerbating a feud that began over the war in Iran.
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” the president wrote on social media. He also wrote that “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.”
A short time later, speaking to reporters after Air Force One landed outside Washington from Florida, Trump said, “We don’t like a pope who says it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon.” “He’s a very liberal person,” Trump said of Leo, before adding, “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo.”
Trump’s post followed Leo having denounced over the weekend the “delusion of omnipotence” that is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and demanded political leaders stop and negotiate peace. Coming in at 334 words, the post is only about 150 words shorter than the president’s longest-ever Truth Social post.’

[aussie_aussie_oi_oi]

Delusional Trump: Trump linked the pope’s ascension to his return to office as president.
“Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise,” Trump said. “He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”

[Jack3]

After that, Trump posted a picture of himself as Jesus.

[aussie_aussie_oi_oi]

Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: “I am disheartened that the President chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father. Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls.”

[aussie_aussie_oi_oi]

After that, Trump posted a picture of himself as Jesus.

And here is the Lord and Saviour of the USA in Easter week.

Untitled.jpg

[aussie_aussie_oi_oi]

Pope Leo XIV on Monday strongly pushed back against criticism from US President Donald Trump, defending his position of seeking peace and rejecting violence amid the Iran war.
“I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the church is here to do,” the pontiff told reporters aboard his plane where he was starting a 10-day trip to the African continent.
“We are not politicians, we don’t deal with foreign policy with the same perspective (as) he might understand it,” he continued. “But I do believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker.”

[Highlander]

Assuming that this is an image posted directly or through his approval, and not some sort of sham, I am gonna have to do some thinking.

[anawim]

Since it has already been deleted from Truth Social, I suspect it was real.

[zeno]

Just deleting it isn't enough for me. I would like to see an explanation and an apology. Not that I am his biggest fan to begin with, of course. I get that he likes to talk big, but this is a bridge waaaay too far.

[Doom]

Unfortunately, Pope Leo responded in kind, thereby lowering his office and stature. To get into a war of words with a politician makes the Pope just another politician.

The Pope SHOULD NOT be holding press conferences in the first place; that was a bad habit introduced by Francis which does far more harm than good. The impromptu Papal press conference is a recent novelty that needs to disappear forever.

But if a reporter asks The Pope something of a controversial and political nature, the correct response is "NO COMMENT." When a reporter asked Leo about what Trump said, all that the reporter was doing was trying to stoke controversy.


The Pope ought to be able to tell the difference between someone who is asking a sincere question and someone who is being a troll trying to stir the pot.

It seems Leo can be almost as impulsive as Francis. All of Leo's worst moments in his first year so far have been the remarks he has made at these foolish press conferences. This is why this novelty of papal press conferences needs to end.

[Doom]

Just deleting it isn't enough for me. I would like to see an explanation and an apology. Not that I am his biggest fan to begin with, of course. I get that he likes to talk big, but this is a bridge waaaay too far.

He said he thought it was portraying him as a Red Cross volunteer, and it wasn't until people complained that he was portraying himself as Christ that he saw what they were seeing.

[zeno]

A Red Cross Volunteer?

[Doom]

That is what he said.

[aussie_aussie_oi_oi]

President Donald Trump was elected in 2024 with support from a majority of Catholic voters, but a poll shows his support from Catholics dipping below 50% amid the U.S. war against Iran.
According to the poll, only 40% of Catholics approve of the way Trump has handled the conflict with Iran, and 60% disapprove. It found that 45% of Catholics support military force against Iran and 55% oppose military force. Similarly, 45% of Catholics believe military action against Iran is going well, and 55% believe it is not going well.
The poll found that 39% of Catholics believe attacks on Iran will make the country safer, 38% believe it will make the country less safe, and 23% believe it will not make much of a difference.
Alternatively, 71% of Catholics believe ending Iran’s nuclear program is important, and 29% said it is not important. It found 61% said it is important to bring about changes in Iran’s government, and 39% said it is not important.
https://www.ncregister.com/cna/poll-cat ... d-iran-war

[zeno]

Voting for Trump, or even considering oneself a supporter of Trump, does not imply 100% agreement with him, and disapproval of certain actions does not imply abandonment of him. I think sometimes people, especially outside our system, fail to understand how between a rock and a hard place American Catholics find themselves.

[anawim]

Unfortunately, Pope Leo responded in kind, thereby lowering his office and stature. To get into a war of words with a politician makes the Pope just another politician.

The Pope SHOULD NOT be holding press conferences in the first place; that was a bad habit introduced by Francis which does far more harm than good. The impromptu Papal press conference is a recent novelty that needs to disappear forever.

But if a reporter asks The Pope something of a controversial and political nature, the correct response is "NO COMMENT." When a reporter asked Leo about what Trump said, all that the reporter was doing was trying to stoke controversy.


The Pope ought to be able to tell the difference between someone who is asking a sincere question and someone who is being a troll trying to stir the pot.

It seems Leo can be almost as impulsive as Francis. All of Leo's worst moments in his first year so far have been the remarks he has made at these foolish press conferences. This is why this novelty of papal press conferences needs to end.

I agree. Trump and Francis got into a war of words, when what he should have done is take a page from QEII, and state, "we will not be dignifying that statement with a reply". Only rarely does the palace ever acknowledge a controversy.

[Doom]

President Donald Trump was elected in 2024 with support from a majority of Catholic voters, but a poll shows his support from Catholics dipping below 50% amid the U.S. war against Iran.
According to the poll, only 40% of Catholics approve of the way Trump has handled the conflict with Iran, and 60% disapprove. It found that 45% of Catholics support military force against Iran and 55% oppose military force. Similarly, 45% of Catholics believe military action against Iran is going well, and 55% believe it is not going well.
The poll found that 39% of Catholics believe attacks on Iran will make the country safer, 38% believe it will make the country less safe, and 23% believe it will not make much of a difference.
Alternatively, 71% of Catholics believe ending Iran’s nuclear program is important, and 29% said it is not important. It found 61% said it is important to bring about changes in Iran’s government, and 39% said it is not important.
https://www.ncregister.com/cna/poll-cat ... d-iran-war

This is called "wish casting" or "seeing the results you want to see".

It is entirely possible, and even prudent, to distinguish between liking the policies of an administration and agreeing with all the personal behavior a particular politician engages in. I voted for Trump 3 times, and I would vote for him again if I had the opportunity. I have no "buyer's remorse," and neither does any other Trump supporter I have ever spoken to, either in person or online.

And as far as military action in Iran, pollsters should try asking a question that actually matters: "Should Iran be allowed to develop nuclear weapons?" I doubt you will find anyone who answers "yes" to that question.

Prosperity is important, but peace and security are more important, and ultimately, it is not even possible to have prosperity unless there is peace and security. And there can be no peace or security for anyone on the planet, including you, if Iran is allowed to have nuclear weapons.

[anawim]

Alternatively, 71% of Catholics believe ending Iran’s nuclear program is important

It found that 45% of Catholics support military force against Iran and 55% oppose military force

This where the only thing that a poll reveals is mental disconnect. If a person thinks that they shouldn't have a nuclear program, but is against military force, how do they think the nuclear program is going to be disbanded? It certainly hasn't happened with diplomacy. Do they really live in such a bubble that they can't use simple logic?

[aussie_aussie_oi_oi]

Bishop Robert Barron@BishopBarron:

The statements made by President Trump on Truth Social regarding the Pope were entirely inappropriate and disrespectful. They don’t contribute at all to a constructive conversation. It is the Pope’s prerogative to articulate Catholic doctrine and the principles that govern the moral life. In regard to the concrete application of those principles, people of good will can and do disagree. I would warmly recommend that serious Catholics within the Trump administration–Secretary Rubio, Vice President Vance, Ambassador Brian Burch, and others–might meet with Vatican officials so that a real dialogue can take place. This is far preferable to the statements on social media.

I am very grateful for the many ways that the Trump administration has reached out to Catholics and other people of faith. It has been a high honor to serve on the Religious Liberty Commission. No President in my lifetime has shown a greater dedication to defending our first liberty. All that said, I think the President owes the Pope an apology.

[Stella]

President Donald Trump was elected in 2024 with support from a majority of Catholic voters, but a poll shows his support from Catholics dipping below 50% amid the U.S. war against Iran.
According to the poll, only 40% of Catholics approve of the way Trump has handled the conflict with Iran, and 60% disapprove. It found that 45% of Catholics support military force against Iran and 55% oppose military force. Similarly, 45% of Catholics believe military action against Iran is going well, and 55% believe it is not going well.
The poll found that 39% of Catholics believe attacks on Iran will make the country safer, 38% believe it will make the country less safe, and 23% believe it will not make much of a difference.
Alternatively, 71% of Catholics believe ending Iran’s nuclear program is important, and 29% said it is not important. It found 61% said it is important to bring about changes in Iran’s government, and 39% said it is not important.
https://www.ncregister.com/cna/poll-cat ... d-iran-war

This is called "wish casting" or "seeing the results you want to see".

It is entirely possible, and even prudent, to distinguish between liking the policies of an administration and agreeing with all the personal behavior a particular politician engages in. I voted for Trump 3 times, and I would vote for him again if I had the opportunity. I have no "buyer's remorse," and neither does any other Trump supporter I have ever spoken to, either in person or online.

And as far as military action in Iran, pollsters should try asking a question that actually matters: "Should Iran be allowed to develop nuclear weapons?" I doubt you will find anyone who answers "yes" to that question.

Prosperity is important, but peace and security are more important, and ultimately, it is not even possible to have prosperity unless there is peace and security. And there can be no peace or security for anyone on the planet, including you, if Iran is allowed to have nuclear weapons.

In the 80 years since the end of WWII, the world has managed to find peace/stability/compromise (despite some regional outbreaks) based on a common desire not to have complete destruction of the human race. I believe Trump is exploiting that noble bottom line because he doesn't care if his gamble ends in annihilation at his age.