Pope Leo and Trump, the battle for America’s soul
This picture, taken on April 14, 2026, shows the front pages of some Italian newspapers reporting on comments by U.S. President Donald Trump about Pope Leo XIV, with headlines using words such as “outrage”, “shock attack”, “insult”, and Trump’s schism”.
| Photo Credit: AP
On April 12, U.S. President Donald Trump declared on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he does not “want a Pope who criticises the President.”
He called Pope Leo XIV “weak on crime, terrible for foreign policy,” claimed credit for his election, and said he preferred the Pope’s brother Louis, a self-described “all MAGA [Make America Great Again]” Floridian.
Published – April 18, 2026 01:19 am IST
