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U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised the Head of the Catholic Church Pope Leo, for his stance on the war in Iran and other conflicts that take human life.

The airstrikes against Iran, which began on February 28, 2026, have already claimed over 3,000 Iranian lives and have spread across the Middle East.

Many of President Trump’s supporters are framing the war in a religious context, which pits Christians against Muslims, rather like the Crusades of the 12th century.

The President has repeatedly said that God is on America’s side, but Pope Leo, speaking at his first Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square in Italy as head of the Catholic Church, contradicted the President, saying, “We constantly make the call for peace, but unfortunately, many people want to promote hatred, violence and war. God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them. Quoting the Bible, he added: “Even though you make may prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood.”

A two-week ceasefire has been declared, but yesterday, peace negotiations led by Vice President J.D. Vance in Pakistan with the Iranian regime broke down last weekend.

President Trump has said that he can now take out Iran in less than an hour, obliterating their desalination and power plants, restricting people’s water supply.

Last week, President Trump said, “Iran’s entire civilisation will die tonight,” as he set a deadline for the Iranian authorities to open the Strait of Hormuz and agree to American terms. Pope Leo said Trump’s threat was ‘truly unacceptable.’

Speaking about Pope Leo yesterday, President Trump was very uncomplimentary about the Pontiff. His tone was dismissive.

“I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime, I guess. We don’t like a Pope who says it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon. We don’t want a Pope that says crime is OK. I am not a fan of Pope Leo.

“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a country that was sending massive amounts of drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers and killers into our country. I’m doing exactly what I was elected in a landslide to do.”

Commenting on President Trump’s declaration of a cease-fire and intent on ending the war, Pope Leo said: “ I’m told that President Trump has recently stated that he would like to end the war….I hope he is looking for an off-ramp.” 

The world is in a serious crisis with major wars on two continents and a rise in misinformation and anti-social behaviour. Good fellowship, leading from a humane and respectful approach  no longer counts. Might is right is the order of the day.

Pope Leo is calling for the teachings of Jesus Christ to point the way. Let’s live in peace and love.

“The public is growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it and becoming indifferent. Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force but by dialogue,’ he beseeched. 

President Trump continued his scathing assessment of Pope Leo’s call for peace and to end violence against our brothers and sisters. He sniped: “ Leo should get his act together as Pope, use common sense, stop catering to the radical left and focus on being a great Pope, not a politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church.”

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has on many occasions said God is on the American armed forces’ side and is with them in battle, vanquishing those who oppose his will. God, he says, has blessed America and shown his will on Easter by helping to rescue an American airman.

Addressing a press briefing, Hegseth asked God for “ overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy. Let every round find its work against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation.”

Pope Leo noted that today, many people are indifferent to the pain and suffering of others; it doesn’t seem to register on the human soul. We live individualistic lives, concerned about our own interests above all else.

 The first American Pope declared: ‘’The cross of Christ always reminds us of the suffering and pain that surround death and the agony it entails. We are all afraid of death, and out of fear, we turn away, preferring not to look. We cannot continue to be indifferent. We cannot resign ourselves to evil!”