President Donald Trump said on Thursday he has "nothing against" Pope Leo XIV, but he disagrees with the pope’s position on Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the dispute comes down to one fundamental difference of opinion. "The pope has to understand, it's very simple … Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. If they do, the whole world would be in jeopardy," Trump said.
Leo, who is originally from Chicago, called for peace over the weekend, criticizing what he described as the "madness of war.”
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump criticized the pope for being "weak" on crime and "terrible" for foreign policy.
Speaking aboard the papal flight to Algiers on Monday, the pope responded to Trump's criticism.
"I don't want to get into a debate with him," Leo said. "I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems."
In response, Trump said he is not fighting with the pope.
"I have nothing against the pope. His brother's MAGA all the way," Trump said on Thursday, referring to Leo's brother Louis, whom Trump described as a friend. "I'm not fighting with him."
Trump argued that the realities of global security demand a firm stance. He pointed to what he described as the Iranian regime's killing of more than 42,000 people—unarmed protesters, he said—in recent months as context for why the stakes are too high for softness. "The pope has to understand that this is the real world," Trump said. "It's a nasty world."
"The pope can say what he wants, and I want him to say what he wants, but I can disagree," he said. "I think that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. If they do, the whole world would be in jeopardy. The Middle East will be blown up and the whole world will be in jeopardy."
U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran began on Feb. 28. Iran subsequently struck back with its own attacks on Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases, and the ongoing hostilities have killed thousands.
Trump is optimistic regarding diplomacy with Tehran, suggesting a resolution could be near. "We're very close to making a deal. That would be a great thing," he said. "They've already agreed not to have [a nuclear weapon]. That's good news, and I think the pope will be very happy."
Trump also addressed his own faith, pushing back against any suggestion that his position puts him at odds with Christian values. "I'm all about the gospel. I'm about it as much as anybody can be, but I can't allow, as President of the United States of America, I can't allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon," he said.