Trump Criticizes Pope Leo XIV Over War Comments; Pontiff Responds

US President Donald Trump launched a sharp criticism against Pope Leo XIV late Sunday, primarily via Truth Social and later to reporters. Trump labeled the pontiff as "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy," also accusing him of a liberal stance on global security issues. This followed Pope Leo XIV's earlier criticisms of Trump's foreign and immigration policies, including calling the US-Israeli war on Iran a result of a "delusion of omnipotence" and deeming a threat to destroy Iranian civilization "unacceptable." In response, Pope Leo XIV stated on Monday, aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria, that he has "no fear of the Trump administration" and would continue to speak out against war. He emphasized that his remarks are not political attacks but a call for peace and dialogue, asserting, "I speak about the Gospel, I am not a politician."