Pope Leo XIV’s peace message faces pushback from Trump

Pope Leo XIV, the first pope born in the U. S. , has spent decades in Peru as a missionary. He’s also a strong advocate for global peace. Yet President Donald Trump has publicly criticized the pope, calling him "weak on crime" and questioning his stance on nuclear weapons. In a 334-word social media post on Sunday night, Trump urged Pope Leo to stop speaking against his military actions in Iran and Venezuela. Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester responded by defending the pope’s right to speak about peace instead of violence. "The pope has the duty to share his message, whether people listen or not, " Wester said. He argued that religion isn’t meant to be a political tool but a call to love others and reject power struggles. Wester also pointed out that the pope’s own life—living and working in Peru for over 20 years—shows his commitment to peace.Trump, however, stood his ground. When reporters asked if he regretted the attack, he said no. The pope, returning from a trip to Algeria, dismissed the conflict, stating his mission is to spread the Gospel’s message of peace—not debate with world leaders. Wester suggested Trump’s reaction might reveal discomfort with criticism. "People who act like they’re the center of everything don’t like it when others challenge their views, " he said. The clash highlights deeper questions: Should religion be used for politics, or should it focus on moral guidance? Pope Leo has never hesitated to speak about ending conflicts, even in his Easter messages. But Trump’s persistence in attacking him raises concerns about how power influences religious discourse today.