US President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, saying “he’s endangering a lot of Catholics,” just days before secretary of state Marco Rubio’s scheduled visit to Vatican City.In an interview with commentator Hugh Hewitt on Monday, Trump accused the first American-born pope of making the world “less safe” with his remarks on immigration and the Iran conflict.“The pope would rather discuss the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “And I don’t think that’s very good. I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people,” he added.However, the pontiff has consistently called for peace talks and criticized military escalation, including Trump’s warnings of strikes that could target civilians during tensions with Iran.The Pope responded to Trump’s criticism stating that the Catholic Church “for years has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt there.”He has also maintained that his views are rooted in Biblical and Church teachings, rather than political opposition to Trump.“The mission of the church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace. If someone wants to criticize me for announcing the Gospel, let him do it with the truth,” the pontiff added.These remarks come ahead of Rubio’s scheduled meetings in Vatican City on Thursday. Rubio, a practicing Catholic, is expected to visit both Rome and the Vatican during the trip, according to the State Department.Trump had earlier attacked the Pope on social media over comments on US immigration policies and deportations, calling him “soft on crime and terrorism.”Pope Leo had earlier responded stating that “God does not listen to the prayers of those who make war.”Tensions flared after Trump posted and then deleted an image on social media of himself as Jesus Christ that drew criticism from critics and religious groups. Trump later said he thought the image depicted him “as a doctor.”Earlier, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, also considered a close Trump ally, reportedly objected to the US president’s comments on the pope.Trump, meanwhile, has intensified criticism of Nato allies over the insufficient support during the Iran conflict, amid reports that the Pentagon plans to reduce troop presence in Germany in the coming months.
