US-Vatican

Trump and Pope Leo XIV: an unprecedented diplomatic clash and the slap in the face of Anagni

The US president's new attack on the eve of the pope's meeting with Rubio, who attempts to tone down the tone

by Carlo Marroni

6 May 2026

Papa Leone XIV risponde a Trump: "Chi vuole criticarmi lo faccia con la verità"

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

The pope replicates (unplanned) in Castelgandolfo
US Secretary of State: Trump was misunderstood
Ambassador to the Holy See: it will be a 'frank' meeting
Parolin: Pope goes on his way
The clash started weeks ago
U.S. domestic politics game
Riccardi (Sant'Egidio): a boomerang for Trump

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

A clash that has no precedent in contemporary history, and one must (perhaps) go back to the Slap of Anagni in 1303 - at that time there was Boniface VIII, and the outrage came from a nobleman on a mission for the king of France - to find something worse.

Donald Trump then returns to the charge, against Leo XIV: "I think he is endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people, it is perfectly fine for him that Iran has a nuclear weapon," the president said during an interview on the Salem News Channel. A somewhat unexpected move at this time, given that on Thursday 7 May the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is scheduled to be received by the Pope.

The pope replies (not planned) in Castelgandolfo

Leone's reply was immediate, also not taken for granted due to the very short time frame: 'The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach peace. If someone wants to criticise me for announcing the Gospel, let him do so with truth'. Outside Villa Barberini, his residence in Castel Gandolfo, Leo stopped with the group of journalists and answered their questions: "The Church has for years spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt there," said the Pope, responding to Trump's claims that the Pontiff would consider it acceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon, putting all Catholics at risk.

Papa replica a Trump: “Mai sostenuto l’atomica, chi mi critica dica la verità”

US Secretary of State: Trump was misunderstood

Rubio in the same evening in a White House conference tried to tone it down: "The president's words were misunderstood" and threw it in that only Trump is trying to do something about Iran unlike his predecessors. In short, the message is that the meeting, which has been on the calendar for some time, is dedicated to religious freedom, and in particular to the situation in Cuba. It will be seen. A meeting announced last Sunday that was read as a rapprochement move between the Washington administration and the Holy See after the attacks by Trump himself (but also by Vice President JD Vance) against Leo in mid-April, coinciding with the start of his long trip to Africa.

The Ambassador to the Holy See: it will be a 'frank' meeting

That the climate was not entirely relaxed had also emerged a few hours earlier when Brian Burch, US ambassador to the Holy See, an ultra-conservative Catholic and founder of the organisation Catholic Vote, had declared that the meeting will include a 'frank conversation' about the Trump administration's policies, which in diplomatic parlance also means a confrontation.

"Nations have differences, and I believe one of the ways to overcome them is through fraternity and genuine dialogue," Burch said. "I believe the Secretary comes here in that spirit," Burch was quoted by Reuters as saying. "To have a frank conversation about US policy, to engage in dialogue."

The temperature between the US and the American Pope, who had already replied to Trump during his trip to Africa, when he said he was "not afraid" of the president.

Papa: "Non è nel mio interesse discutere con Trump"

Parolin: the Pope goes on his way

On the evening of Tuesday 5 May, meanwhile, the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on the sidelines of the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the Home for the Relief of Suffering, spoke on the US president's words. "The Pope has already answered, I would not add anything," he said, stressing that Prevost "gave a very, very Christian answer saying that he is doing what his role requires and that is to preach peace". He added: "Whether you like this or not is a discourse we understand that not everyone is on the same page, but let's say that that is the Pope's answer".

Parolin went on to specify that "the Pope goes on his way, in the sense of preaching the Gospel, peace as St. Paul would say" on every "opportune and inopportune' occasion". For the Cardinal Secretary of State of the Vatican, "even in the face of these new attacks I do not know if the Pope" will respond, he continued, "probably he will not have occasion to respond because on that occasion", last 13 April, "there was the meeting with journalists but the line remains that".

The clash started weeks ago

What had happened? Already on 7 April, Trump had raised the level of confrontation with his ultimatum to Iran: 'An entire civilisation is about to die'. Leo had narrowly replied that such a statement 'is not acceptable'.

A few days later, on 13 April, the attack on Leo became direct and personal. 'He is terrible at foreign policy', 'I don't want one who thinks it is acceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon'. Then the lunge: 'I much prefer his brother Louis because he is totally Maga'. The pope, as said on a trip to Africa, had retorted in kind.

Rubio: visita Papa programmata da tempo, c'è molto di cui parlare

Behind the attacks US domestic politics game

In fact, Rubio's visit - before this new exit - was read as a skilful appeasement move: Rubio, a Catholic from birth (Vance is a convert), had not entered into the attacks on the Pope, and despite being a staunch supporter of the attack on Iran (unlike Vance) had remained defenceless. In this game there is of course a preponderant component of domestic politics: according to many observers, Trump's new attack is aimed at trying to consolidate consensus among ultra-conservative Catholic voters (55% had voted for him, now the polls are falling for the mid-term), even if it is predictable that the bishops, even the most Trumpian ones, will come to the Pope's defence.

The other variable is the competition between Rubio and Vance for the next presidential election (the President for now seems to be rooting for the Secretary of State), and the Catholic variable is certainly a key element. For now, tomorrow's hearing is confirmed, but certainly the climate is not good. There are those who remember that in 2020 Francis refused to receive Trump's then Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, who had arrived in Rome to try to stop the renewal of the agreement between China and the Holy See for the appointment of bishops (later signed several times).

Riccardi (Sant'Egidio): a boomerang for Trump

"Trump's attack was a boomerang and is displeasing to US Catholics of all persuasions who are happy to have an American who has only fulfilled his mission of opposing wars. This is a problem for the White House and Rubio reknits the threads of dialogue on international issues: the Middle East, Ukraine, Cuba, Venezuela," said Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant'Egidio, in an interview with La Stampa. "We do not know," he added, "when the post-Trump era will begin and what place Rubio will have in it, but he is a Catholic by family tradition and more so than Vance, he is well suited to discussions with the Holy See where they are very attentive to Latin American dossiers such as Cuba and the future of Venezuela. This is because of Prevost's background and the Latin soul of the US Church'.

Speaking of China's involvement in the pursuit of peace, Riccardi recalls that 'Rubio is familiar with the Vatican's interlocution with China. The Holy See towards Beijing is not guided by political calculations, but by a pastoral vision. Today Beijing, which has a say in scenarios like Iran, is aware that the Holy See has an international role. China is a global player'.