United States President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Iran and renewed tensions with the Vatican after revealing that he sent a direct message to Pope Leo XIV through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, insisting that Tehran must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.
Trump disclosed the message while reacting to recent remarks from the Vatican that appeared to call for restraint and diplomacy amid rising international concern over Iran’s nuclear programme and the growing instability in the Middle East.
According to the American president, his instruction to Rubio was simple but firm. He said the Vatican must understand that the United States views a nuclear-armed Iran as an unacceptable threat to global security.
“I just said tell the Pope, very nicely, very respectfully, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump stated during a media interaction.
The president also accused Iranian authorities of severe human rights violations, claiming that thousands of peaceful protesters had been killed during anti-government demonstrations over the years. Trump argued that such issues should also be considered whenever discussions about Iran are raised on the international stage.
“So when he comes to their defence, also tell the Pope that Iran killed 42,000 innocent protesters who didn’t have guns, who didn’t have weapons,” Trump added.
The remarks have further deepened the growing public disagreement between Trump and Pope Leo XIV, who has consistently positioned himself as a strong advocate for peace, diplomacy and multilateral engagement since assuming leadership of the Catholic Church.
Relations between the White House and the Vatican have become increasingly strained in recent months, especially over issues relating to war, migration, international diplomacy and the humanitarian consequences of global conflicts.
The latest controversy comes ahead of Rubio’s scheduled diplomatic visit to the Vatican, a meeting observers believe could become tense given the escalating rhetoric from both sides.
Trump, who has long maintained a hardline position against Tehran, has repeatedly argued that Iran’s nuclear ambitions pose a direct danger not only to the Middle East but also to international stability. During his earlier administration, the United States withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement negotiated under former President Barack Obama and reintroduced sweeping economic sanctions against Tehran.
Supporters of Trump’s policy argue that the sanctions and diplomatic pressure were necessary to curb Iran’s influence in the region, while critics maintain that the collapse of the agreement contributed to renewed instability and rising tensions between Iran and Western powers.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV has continued to publicly advocate peaceful dialogue and negotiation as alternatives to military confrontation. During a recent papal trip to Africa, the pontiff made it clear that the Church would continue speaking against war and violence regardless of political criticism.
Speaking to journalists aboard the papal aircraft during the tour, Pope Leo stressed that he was not interested in engaging in a direct political confrontation with Trump.
“I don’t want to get into a debate with him,” the Pope said.
The pontiff further warned against the misuse of religion and the Christian message for political battles, insisting that the mission of the Church remains rooted in peacebuilding, compassion and justice.
“I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing,” he stated.
Pope Leo also used the opportunity to renew his appeal for stronger international cooperation in resolving conflicts around the world. According to him, millions of innocent people continue to suffer because global leaders have failed to prioritise peace and dialogue.
“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,” the Pope said.
He further lamented the growing number of civilian deaths in conflict zones across the world, stressing that humanity must find better alternatives to violence.
“Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way,” he added.
The Pope also clarified that his position should not be interpreted as partisan politics, insisting that his role as spiritual leader of the Catholic Church is guided by the teachings of the Gospel.
“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,” he explained.
The disagreement between the two influential global figures has sparked widespread debate across political and religious circles worldwide. Analysts say the situation reflects the broader clash between aggressive geopolitical strategies and calls for moral diplomacy in handling international crises.
The controversy also gained further attention after Trump reportedly described the Pope as “weak” in a social media post during an earlier exchange between both camps. The backlash intensified after Trump shared and later deleted an AI-generated image portraying himself in a Christ-like pose, an action that attracted criticism from religious leaders, commentators and even some conservative supporters.
Political observers believe Rubio’s upcoming Vatican visit may now carry more significance than originally expected, as both Washington and the Holy See attempt to navigate one of the most publicly visible diplomatic disagreements in recent years.
Despite the mounting tension, Vatican officials have continued to maintain that the Church’s focus remains on promoting peace, defending innocent lives and encouraging dialogue among nations facing conflict and political division.
