After Trump said the pope was taking a complacent approach to Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, the pope pushed back, saying the Catholic Church has long opposed all nuclear arms.
The pope spoke to reporters Monday aboard the papal plane as he returned to Rome from a trip to Africa. “I am only delivering the message of the Gospel and peace,” he said. He added that “the Catholic Church has opposed all nuclear weapons for years,” distancing himself from the claim.
The exchange flared again after Trump’s recent remarks in an interview with conservative host Hugh Hewitt, in which Trump said the pope was being complacent about Iran’s nuclear weapons issue.
The Associated Press reported, however, that the pope has not supported Iran’s nuclear armament and instead reaffirmed his longstanding opposition to all nuclear weapons.
The clash is not new. On April 13, Trump attacked the pope, suggesting he was weak on crime and problematic in diplomacy. The pope responded at the time that he was not afraid and would continue criticizing the suffering caused by war.
The timing has drawn attention as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet the pope at the Vatican this week. U.S. officials said the visit was planned in advance, not an improvised effort to smooth things over, but Trump’s latest comments have fueled speculation that the meeting now carries added political weight.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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