Trump Lashes Out at Pope Over Iran War, Immigration Criticism

Pope Leo XIV boards his flight to Algiers, in Rome, on April 13.Photographer: Tiziana Fabi/Getty Images

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By Catherine Lucey

April 13, 2026 at 1:24 AM UTC

Updated on

April 13, 2026 at 2:05 AM UTC

President Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV for his criticisms of the US-Israeli war on Iran, calling the leader of the Catholic Church “WEAK on crime.”

The American-born pope has issued a series of rebukes to his leadership, most recently challenging the administration’s argument that God is on the side of the US in the conflict with Iran.