On Monday, former President Donald Trump dismissed a request by Bishop Robert Barron for the Pope to apologize for his remarks on Truth Social, asserting that it was the Pope who erred. Trump’s criticism targeted Pope Leo’s position on the war in Iran, leading to a conflict with the Roman Catholic Church. Barron, in response, expressed gratitude for Trump’s support of religious freedom but suggested, rather courteously, that the former president should consider apologizing to the Pope.
When asked by reporters about the possibility of an apology, Trump firmly stated, “No, it’s not, because Pope Leo said the wrong thing. He was very opposed to what I was doing regarding Iran. And you can’t have a nuclear Iran.” He emphasized the grave consequences of conflict, mentioning the loss of countless lives and pointing out that the Pope might not appreciate the situation’s implications. He expressed concern that such a nuclear threat could lead to increased crime and instability.
Trump continued by praising the Pope’s brother, mentioning a personal preference for him over Pope Leo. “There has to be law and order in our country, and that’s what we have right now,” he said, highlighting a perceived decline in crime rates despite admitting that some criminals have entered the country. He noted that the murder rate is at its lowest in over a century, which he attributed to his administration’s efforts.
In his Truth Social post, Trump labeled Pope Leo as “bad on crime” and “terrible on foreign policy.” He criticized the Pope’s comments on the Trump administration, claiming that they ignored the challenges faced by Christian groups during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many were penalized for conducting church services.
Bishop Barron later characterized Trump’s comments about the Pope as “inappropriate and disrespectful,” arguing that they hinder constructive dialogue. He urged Catholic members of the Trump administration to engage with Vatican officials to foster real communication, rather than relying on social media exchanges. Barron acknowledged the Trump administration’s outreach to various faiths but maintained that an apology from the former president was warranted.
In a related incident, shortly after his exchange with the Pope, Trump faced backlash from many in the Christian community for posting an AI-generated image that some found blasphemous, depicting a Christ-like figure healing a man. Trump insisted his intention was to represent himself as a healer and, after some backlash, removed the post.
