Trump Reignites Pope Feud Accusing Pontiff Of ‘endangering A Lot Of Catholics’

President Trump has reignited his feud pinch Pope Leo XIV, accusing nan pontiff of “endangering a batch of Catholics”.​

Trump deed retired astatine nan belief leader during an question and reply discussing the jailed Hong Kong businessman Jimmy Lai, whose lawsuit he plans to raise pinch Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month. ​

When nan big of nan The Hugh Hewitt Show suggested nan Pope should besides raise nan rumor of Lai’s detention, Trump quickly pivoted to an onslaught connected nan leader of nan Catholic church.

“Well, nan Pope would alternatively talk astir nan truth that it’s OK for Iran to person a atomic weapon,” Trump said Sunday. “I don’t deliberation that’s very good. ​

“I deliberation he’s endangering a batch of Catholics and a batch of people, but I guess, if it’s up to nan Pope. He thinks it's conscionable good for Iran to person a atomic weapon.”​

​Trump has many times fought pinch nan American-born Pope successful caller weeks, arsenic they guidelines astatine likelihood connected galore issues, ranging from nan warfare to immigration.

Last period nan Pope took rumor pinch Trump’s threat that a “whole civilization will die” successful Iran, branding nan bonzer outburst arsenic “unacceptable”.​ The Pope besides suggested that a “delusion of omnipotence” was fueling nan Iran warfare and different conflicts, successful a cloaked jab astatine nan U.S. president. ​

In response, Trump branded nan Pope arsenic “WEAK connected crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy”, while besides stating that he preferred nan pontiff’s brother, Louis, whom he claims is “all MAGA”.

The president past went connected to station a image of himself arsenic Jesus treatment nan sick, a meme that sparked wide backlash including from his ain supporters.

The Pope, meanwhile, has said he has “no fearfulness of nan Trump administration” and stressed he does not want to statement nan president.

However, Trump’s latest swipe astatine nan pontiff comes astatine a delicate time, pinch Secretary of State Marco Rubio set to meet pinch nan Pope successful Italy this week. ​

A spokesperson for nan State Department told USA Today that Rubio would beryllium visiting Rome from May 6-8, pinch nan intent of advancing “bilateral relations pinch Italy and nan Vatican”.

Rubio and nan Pope are expected to talk nan ongoing situation successful nan Middle East, but according to USA Today Cuba is besides connected nan agenda.

The U.S. has ramped up unit connected nan state this year, peculiarly aft forcibly removing Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro from powerfulness successful January.

In February, nan Pope expressed “great concern” complete rising tensions betwixt Cuba and nan United States and called for a “sincere and effective dialogue” betwixt nan 2 countries. ​Pope Leo besides prayed for nan patron of Cuba to watch complete nan country.​

“May nan Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre assistance and protect each nan children of that beloved land,” he said. ​