Trump’s Pope Remarks Desecrate Jesus, Iran’s President Says

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has strongly criticised comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump about Pope Leo XIV, describing them as offensive to the papacy and disrespectful to Jesus Christ.

Trump had said on Sunday that he is “not a big fan” of Leo XIV, accusing the pontiff of being “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.” His remarks followed criticism from the 70-year-old American pope over ongoing tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

The U.S. president also claimed the pope had been unfair in his assessment of his administration, arguing that Leo XIV ignored restrictions placed on religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“He’s a very liberal person, and he’s a man that doesn’t believe in stopping crime,” Trump said.

He further stated that he does not “want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” adding, “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”

The comments triggered widespread backlash.

Responding on Monday via X, Pezeshkian wrote, “His Holiness Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex), I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah.”

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have remained high in recent months. In February, the U.S., under Trump’s directive and in coordination with Israel, carried out missile strikes on Iran under the Operation Epic Fury, prompting retaliatory attacks by Iran targeting parts of the Gulf region.

Efforts to ease the crisis have so far yielded little progress as a reconciliation meeting held over the weekend in Islamabad, Pakistan, ended without a breakthrough.