Mission is to preach peace, says Pope in response to Trump attacks
Trump lashed out at the pope for condemning the conflict in the Middle East, as his secretary of state heads to the Vatican.
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Notable Quotes
"The mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace."
— Pope Leo , Activist
"He wasn't on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"Trump's attacks unacceptable, I support the Pope's every word"
— Antonio Tajani , Politician
"You don't dispute the pope, you listen to him"
— Matteo Salvini , Politician
"Pope Leo will continue on his path"
— Parolin , Other
"Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"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."
— Pope Leo , Activist
"There is no ambiguity about the situation now."
— Massimo Faggioli , Academic
"Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls."
— Archbishop Paul S. Coakley , Other
"Blessed are the peacemakers is the message that the world needs to hear today."
— Pope Leo XIV , Other
"I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among states to find just solutions to problems."
— Pope Leo XIV , Other
"I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"In Catholic teaching, this is not a just war."
— Robert McElroy , Other
"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."
— Masoud Pezeshkian , Politician
"From Iran and from the whole Middle East, news continues to reach us that gives rise to profound consternation."
— Pope Leo XIV , Other
Key People
Abdelmadjid Tebboune is the President of Algeria.
Roman Catholic priest and undersecretary at the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education.
Foreign Minister of Italy who criticized the IPC's decision.
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley is the current president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Former president of the United States known for his aggressive economic policies.
Giorgia Meloni is the Premier of Italy.
JD Vance is a United States Senator from Ohio and a prominent figure in conservative politics.
U.S. Secretary of State.
Masoud Pezeshkian is the President of Iran.
Massimo Faggioli is an Italian academic who studies the Vatican.
Matteo Salvini is a government ally and member of the League party in Italy.
Parolin is the Vatican Secretary of State.
Pope Leo is the head of the Catholic Church and has recently criticized divisive global leadership.
Pope Leo XIV is the current pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
Cardinal Robert McElroy is a Catholic leader opposed to the war in Iran.
Tags
All Coverage
Trump lashed out at the pope for condemning the conflict in the Middle East, as his secretary of state heads to the Vatican.
Pope Leo XIV remains steadfast in advocating for peace despite escalating tensions with the Trump administration over the Iran conflict.
Pope Leo XIV renewed his appeal for peace in the Middle East amid escalating tensions, calling for dialogue and an end to violence.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin stated that Pope Leo XIV will continue his mission of preaching peace despite recent criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump over the Iran conflict.
Pope Leo XIV responded to President Trump's criticism by affirming his commitment to preaching peace and expressing 'no fear' of the administration's attacks.
Pope Leo XIV addressed President Trump's criticism by emphasizing the Gospel message of peace and stating he has 'no fear' of the administration.
Similar Stories
Related coverage based on topic and tags
Pope Leo condemns death penalty as Trump mulls livestreamed execution - Reuters
Pope Leo condemns death penalty as Trump mulls livestreamed execution Reuters
October 10, 2026 at 04:17 PM'Stain on the country': Trump criticises Norway over Nobel Peace Prize
The US president told a rally he had "never heard of" the winner, former International Criminal Court judge Navi Pillay.
October 10, 2026 at 04:07 AMNobel peace laureate says US sanctions on ICC 'unacceptable'
Navi Pillay says the Trump administrations' sweeping penalties on the international tribunal were "unheard of".
October 10, 2026 at 03:23 PMWestern civilisation at risk of 'atrophy, servitude and decline', Rubio says
In a speech overlooking the Acropolis, the US Secretary of State also said the US believes Europe "can awaken from its long slumber".
October 7, 2026 at 06:47 PMCalifornia leaders hit back after Trump says Iran can 'take out' LA and San Diego
The US president said rising gas prices were a "small price to pay for keeping the world safe" at an election rally in Nebraska.
October 6, 2026 at 11:13 AMAnalysis: Trump's shock Russia deal highlights mounting pressure to curb fuel prices
The US president hopes to ease his party's pain before next month's midterm elections, writes the BBC's North America correspondent.
October 9, 2026 at 10:30 PM