Trump lambasts Pope Leo XIV, extending feud over Iran war with American pontiff

NPR
by The Associated Press
April 13, 2026
1 min read

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President Donald Trump publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV, escalating an ongoing feud over the war in Iran.

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President Donald Trump publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, stating he believes the U.S.-born global leader of the Catholic Church is "not doing a very good job." This broadside extends an ongoing feud between the President and the American pontiff regarding the war in Iran. The President's comments mark an extraordinary escalation in public tensions between the White House and the Vatican.

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