Trump Launches Extraordinary Attack on Pope Leo Over Crime and Foreign Policy
Former US President Donald Trump has unleashed an extraordinary verbal assault on Pope Leo, accusing the Vatican leader of being "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy." This scathing critique was posted on Trump's social media platform, where he insisted the Pope must not "criticise the President."
Trump's Social Media Tirade Targets Pope's Stance
In his ongoing criticism of the Catholic Church, Trump referenced the 2020 Covid pandemic, alleging that priests faced arrest threats for conducting church services during that time. The former president took a personal dig at Pope Leo, stating, "I like his brother Louis much better."
Trump elaborated on his foreign policy concerns, saying: "I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. 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."
Pope's Call for Peace Sparks Controversy
The rebuke follows Pope Leo's remarks during a prayer service in Vatican City on Saturday, where the first US-born pope called on world leaders to cease hostilities and pleaded for peace. Speaking at an evening peace vigil at St Peter's Basilica, he made a direct appeal to global leaders to resume negotiations.
Leading the service, Pope Leo stated: "Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life." Although the Iran-US conflict was not directly referenced, the comments came as diplomatic talks between the two countries were underway in Pakistan.
Trump's Demands and Political Accusations
Trump continued his attack by declaring: "And I don't want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I'm doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do... 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."
The Pope also cautioned against what he referred to as "that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive." This statement appears to have further fueled Trump's criticism of the Vatican leader's approach to international affairs and domestic security concerns.
