Trump: Pope Leo is "endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people"

[dalton99a]

https://apnews.com/article/trump-rubio-pope-iran-19fac7bba8f7c9b4d59630b7d5537868

Trump again assails Pope Leo, potentially complicating Rubio’s visit to the Vatican this week
By MATTHEW LEE and NICOLE WINFIELD
Updated 6:21 PM CDT, May 5, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has renewed his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, potentially complicating a fence-mending visit that Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to make this week to the Vatican.

In an interview with conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt, Trump said the first American-born pontiff is helping Iran and also making the world less safe with his comments about the importance of not treating immigrants with disrespect.

“The pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said in the interview on Monday. “And I don’t think that’s very good. I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people.”

The pope, however, has not said Iran should obtain nuclear weapons. He’s called for more peace talks, and criticized war with Iran generally and Trump’s specific threats of mass civilian strikes. The pope also has emphasized that he’s reflecting biblical and church teachings, not speaking as a political rival to Trump.

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Yeah, the pope is beating up nuns and smashing statues of Jesus