Iranian president condemns Trump’s attack on Pope as desecration of Jesus

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has publicly condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of Pope Leo XIV, describing the remarks as an insult to the pontiff and a desecration of Jesus Christ.

Trump said on Sunday that he is “not a big fan” of Leo XIV, saying he is “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.”

He made the comments in response to the 70-year-old American pope’s criticism of ongoing conflicts involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.

Trump argued that the pontiff had unfairly criticised his administration while overlooking actions taken against religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He’s a very liberal person, and he’s a man that doesn’t believe in stopping crime,” the U.S. president said.

He added that he does not “want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” and said, “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”

The remarks sparked global outrage.

Reacting in a post on X on Monday, Pezeshkian wrote, “His Holiness Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex), I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah.”

US under Trump’s directive and in collaboration with Israel, launched missile strikes on Iran in February under Operation Epic Fury, sparking retaliation from Iran, which struck some nations in the Gulf.

A reconciliation meeting was held in Islamabad, Pakistan, over the weekend but ended in deadlock.