Pope Leo clarified his “tyrants” speech was written two weeks before Trump ever commented, but the damage was already done

Pope Leo XIV told reporters on Saturday that his speech criticizing leaders who spend billions on wars while neglecting healing and education was drafted well before Trump weighed in on the pontiff. The remarks, delivered in Cameroon on Thursday, drew widespread attention after appearing just days following a public clash between the two. Speaking to reporters on a flight to Angola, the Pope said his comments were written “well before the president ever commented on myself.”

The Pope acknowledged that “a certain narrative that has not been accurate” had taken hold, driven by “the political situation created” by Trump’s remarks. He said debating the president was “not in my interest at all,” though the timing had already led numerous outlets to frame the speech as a direct response.

The dispute was first ignited on Monday, when Trump called the first American Pope “terrible for foreign policy” and “WEAK on crime.” As first reported by BBC News and CNN, the criticism came after the Pope voiced concern about Trump’s warning that “a whole civilisation will die” if Iran did not agree to US demands to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also shared an AI-generated image of himself depicted as a Jesus-like figure, which he later removed.

Trump’s dispute with Pope Leo looks nothing like his brief 2016 clash with Pope Francis

The current conflict differs markedly from Trump’s 2016 run-in with Pope Francis. That dispute centered on immigration and Trump’s proposed border wall, with Francis saying it was “not Christian” to build walls instead of bridges and Trump calling those comments “disgraceful.” The exchange ended quickly, with Trump moving to smooth things over by calling Francis “a wonderful guy.”

Pope Leo has been more direct than Francis was. He raised concerns about the Iran war and immigration repeatedly, and on Monday told reporters aboard the papal airplane that he had “no fear of the Trump administration” and would continue to preach the Gospel. Trump has declined to apologize, saying, “Pope Leo said things that are wrong. He was very much against what I’m doing with regard to Iran,” and adding, “I think he’s very weak on crime and other things. He went public. I’m just responding to Pope Leo.” Trump has similarly doubled down against critics within his own party, including members who opposed his use of military force in Iran.

The AI-generated image Trump posted depicted him as a Christ-like figure healing a sick person, drawing backlash from critics including some of his own supporters. The Knights Templar International called it blasphemous, and Trump later deleted the post, claiming on Monday he thought it showed him as a doctor. Jesuit priest Father James Martin responded: “I don’t know too many doctors that have glowing hands.” The image came a week after Trump’s spiritual adviser, Paula White-Cain, openly compared him to Jesus Christ at a White House event, prompting conservative commentator Erick Erickson to note that Christian Trump supporters “who have stood with him through Iran” were being pushed toward a line many were unwilling to cross.

Pope Leo XIV is the first American Pope, a fact that may give his criticisms additional weight with US audiences. A Gallup poll from last summer found him to be the most popular national figure among 14 tested, and an NBC News poll last month showed Americans viewed him positively by a 5-to-1 margin.

Catholics were a crucial demographic for Trump in the 2024 election, with data showing he won between 55% and 59% of the men reportedly the most of any presidential candidate in decades. Pew Research Center data from January also showed Catholics had demonstrated more sustained support for Trump than many other groups. Trump’s approval ratings have been low in some recent polls, making the Catholic vote a constituency he can ill afford to alienate.