April 14, 2026 | 09:23 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemns the insult made by the President of the United States (US), Donald Trump, towards Pope Leo XIV.
According to a post on X social media on Monday as quoted by Anadolu, Pezeshkian stated that the blasphemy against "Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood" is unacceptable to anyone.
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also criticized Trump's statement.
"In an era when the thunder of bombs and the clamor of warlords and aggressors weigh heavily on the world’s conscience, the words of Pope Leo XIV echo the profound call of the Gospel: 'Blessed are the peacemakers'," said ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei in X.
Baghaei emphasized that insulting the Pope is a "a blatant assault on responsible advocacy for peace, justice and humanity".
Trump's Taunts
Pezeshkian and Baghaei's statements came after Trump launched a tirade against Pope Leo, calling him "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy".
Trump also criticized the Pope's stance on international issues, including the Iran war, and accused his leadership in the Catholic Church of being politically motivated.
The US President even shared a photo produced by AI on Truth Social depicting himself as a figure resembling Jesus.
Trump's comments came after Leo stated over the weekend that "the delusion of omnipotence" was sparking the US-Israel war on Iran.
In response, Pope Leo stated that he is not afraid of the Trump administration and will continue to speak out against war.
He emphasized that his actions are rooted in the teachings of the Gospel, not political interests.
The American-born Pope also stated that he has no intention of directly debating with Trump.
Pope Leo is known to be increasingly vocal in advocating for peace amidst the US and Israel's war against Iran.
In addition to urging for an immediate end to the conflict, the Supreme Leader of the Catholic Church condemned the "show of strength" that triggered the war.
Although it is not uncommon for a pope and a president to have differing views, it is very rare for a pope to directly criticize a US leader-and Trump's equally harsh response is just as rare, if not rarer.
Profile of Leo XIV
As reported by Antara, Pope Leo XIV (Robert Francis Prevost) was elected as the Pope on May 8, 2025, making him the first Pope from the US.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 14, 1955, he grew up in a devout Catholic family with a mixed heritage of French, Italian, and Spanish. Prevost was a missionary of the Order of St. Augustine who spent much of his service in Peru.
Prior to becoming Pope, he served as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Latin American Pontifical Commission, making him a key figure in the global bishops' election.
Known as a moderate figure who is fluent in Spanish and Italian, Pope Leo XIV has a strong focus on social justice, immigrants, and the environment.
Read: Pope Leo: I Am Not Afraid of Trump Administration
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