Trump's Unprecedented Attacks on Pope Leo XIV Spark Outrage Among Religious Experts
Experts in Catholicism and religious studies are grappling with President Donald Trump's recent inflammatory attacks against Pope Leo XIV, including the particularly undignified accusation that the pontiff "likes crime." The president faced widespread condemnation after launching a lengthy Truth Social post on Sunday night, labeling the first U.S.-born pope in history as "WEAK on Crime" and "terrible for Foreign Policy." Trump further claimed that Leo was selected specifically because Vatican officials believed he would be the best figure to deal with the Trump administration.
Trump's Social Media Rant and Subsequent Remarks
"Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician," Trump added in his post. This outburst followed a "60 Minutes" segment featuring three American cardinals discussing the pope's notably more direct tone in recent statements criticizing the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran. Trump continued his attacks later that evening, telling reporters, "I don't think he's doing a very good job, he likes crime, I guess. He's a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime."
The Pope's Peaceful Response and Message
Last week, Pope Leo referenced Trump's threats to erase Iran's entire civilization, calling them "truly unacceptable." He urged "all people of good will to search always for peace and violence" and encouraged contacting local political leaders to advocate for peace and reject war. During a Saturday prayer service at St. Peter's Basilica, Leo spoke about the "delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us" and its destabilizing effect on the "balance within the human family," though he did not mention Trump by name.
Responding to questions about Trump's attacks while en route to Algiers on Monday, Leo stated he has "no fear of the Trump administration." He emphasized, "The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the Peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political, a politician. I don't want to get into a debate with him. I don't think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing." According to Reuters, he added, "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."
Expert Analysis: Bizarre and Unprecedented Accusations
Robert Orsi, a professor of religious studies and expert on American Catholicism at Northwestern University, described Trump's attacks as "so all undignified" and "horrible," noting they are difficult to rationalize. "Certainly, it makes no sense to call any pope soft on crime. I have no idea what that means," Orsi told HuffPost. He suggested Trump appears to be "repurposing a 1960s/1970s Republican talking point against all of his opponents," referencing how "soft on crime" was a major talking point during the Nixon administration. "He seems literally to be repurposing an old Republican talking point — as an attack on the pope! It simply makes no other sense," Orsi added.
Peter Casarella, professor of theology and executive director of the Fons Vitae Catholic initiative at Duke Divinity School, expressed puzzlement at Trump's accusation that the pope "likes crime," noting Leo is "legitimately worried about the possibility of war crimes being committed." Casarella speculated Trump might be trying to turn the tables by appealing to concerns about migrant treatment and family separation at the border. "Trump's bizarre argument, if I understand it, is that he can offer a form of security to the American people by sending criminals back across the border, and a Pope 'who likes crime' will take that security away," he explained. "The obvious problem is that no Pope has ever said that criminal behavior is fine or that borders should be eliminated. Neither of those positions are in line with the teachings of Christ or of the Church."
Gaslighting and Misrepresentation Tactics
Deepak Sarma, inaugural distinguished scholar in the public humanities at Case Western Reserve University, characterized Trump's remarks as "blatant attempts at gaslighting — a default strategy in his pattern of rhetorical mischaracterization." Sarma, who holds a Ph.D. in the philosophy of religions from the University of Chicago Divinity School, stated that Trump's claims falsely attribute beliefs to Leo and are "irrelevant, if not malicious and borderline defamatory." He noted that while such tactics have resonated with some supporters, they have alienated Catholic voters, citing a recent poll showing Trump's support from Catholics dropping below 50%.
Sarma emphasized that the pope's desire for world peace aligns not only with Catholic doctrine but also with the values of many non-religious individuals. He suggested Leo's American background may make him more aware of global complexities and more likely to condemn injustices. "In contrast to Trump, the Church places a high value on human dignity, the protection of civilians, especially vulnerable ones, and skepticism of modern warfare," Sarma added. "The pope has had to reassert and reclaim the Catholic beliefs (Catholic just war doctrine) and that God does not side with military campaigns."
Theological Foundations and Historical Context
Casarella highlighted the Catholic just war doctrine, particularly the principle of proportional response to avoid civilian casualties. "The reports of civilian casualties in Iran and the threats to destroy a civilization cannot be squared with this tradition," he said. "Pope Leo has no recourse but to defend a very old tradition of moral thought that is found in the Church and that remains relevant today." He noted the modern papacy is fundamentally "about the call for peace," citing Pope Benedict XVI's namesake, Benedict XV, who advocated for peace during World War I.
Orsi stressed that Trump's "open assault" on the papacy is "really unprecedented in the modern era," while emphasizing that popes have historically called for peace, such as Pope Paul VI during the Vietnam War. "Jesus was a figure of peace. And he did say 'Blessed are the peacemakers.' The whole Gospel is rooted in peace and love. It is a message of love. So that is the pope's mission, to speak from Jesus' message of love and peace," Orsi explained. "There is nothing unusual about this."
Orsi also clarified that when the pope speaks, he represents all Catholics globally, even when addressing specific issues like the war in Iran. "I think it's also him alerting Catholic authorities all over the world that they too need to commit themselves to peace ... and not to be afraid," he concluded.
