Pope Leo XIV remarks prompt US Catholic and evangelical criticism of Trump statements

US Catholic leaders and some evangelical figures have criticised Donald Trump for remarks aimed at Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff. Archbishop Paul Coakley and Bishop Robert Barron urged respect, with Barron calling the comments inappropriate and asking for an apology. Leo XIV says his appeals for peace present a Gospel message, not a personal attack.

Most US Catholic voters backed Donald Trump in the 2024 election. However, leaders across Catholic politics showed alarm after Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV. Leo is the first American pope. The dispute widened into conservative evangelical circles too. Some supporters objected to a Christ-like image of Trump that appeared online.

By midday Monday, the image was removed from Truth Social. Speaking at the White House, Trump denied any intent to compare himself to Jesus. "How did they come up with that?\" Trump said. \"Its supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better. And I do make people better. I make people a lot better,.\"

Trump Pope Leo XIV dispute draws Catholic criticism

Trump also rejected calls to make peace with Pope Leo XIV. \"Theres nothing to apologize for. Hes wrong.\" Leo has said the pope is sharing a Gospel message. Leo has also said the pope is not aiming at Trump. Leo has urged peace and criticised attitudes that fuel the war.

Archbishop Paul Coakley, who leads the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, criticised Trump. Minnesota-based Bishop Robert Barron also spoke out. Barron had praised Trump as an Easter guest at the White House. Barron later called the president’s remarks inappropriate and disrespectful, and urged an apology.

Experts said the exchange stands out in US history. \"This is unprecedented criticism of a Pope from a US president,\" said David Campbell, a political science professor at the University of Notre Dame. Campbell also said some lay Catholics stayed with Trump. Campbell warned it could become \"a watershed moment... with American Catholics choosing a Catholic-baiting president over their own pope.\"

Kathleen Sprows Cummings, a professor at Notre Dame, compared the conflict with past pressure on popes. Cummings said rulers have long tried to force popes to yield. Yet Cummings said this case flips older US views of the papacy. Cummings wrote that \"Today, the menace is in the White House, and the pope is the one defending the ideals of liberty and human dignity.\"

Trump Pope Leo XIV feud reaches evangelical allies

Several evangelical voices condemned the image, while still backing Trump. \"TAKE THIS DOWN, MR. PRESIDENT,\" wrote David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network. \"Youre not God. None of us are. This goes too far. It crosses the line.\" Willy Rice, a Southern Baptist Convention candidate, wrote, \"It isnt hard to condemn this outright.\"

Doug Wilson, who co-founded the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, also commented online. Wilson noted the group’s links to the current administration. Its members include Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. \"I was very grateful to see how many conservative Christians immediately denounced the blasphemous Jesus/Trump image,\" Wilson posted on X.

Megan Basham, a conservative evangelical commentator, backed Trump’s critique of Leo on policy. Basham wrote that Leo was \"Weak on crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.\" Yet Basham also attacked the online image. Basham called it \"OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy\" and urged Trump to seek forgiveness from Americans and God.

Trump Pope Leo XIV rift raises questions for JD Vance

Vice President JD Vance did not comment immediately on the pope-Trump rift. Vance is a Catholic convert. Vance has sometimes clashed with Catholic leaders over immigration enforcement. Catholics Vote Common Good urged Vance to speak. \"At a moment when the Holy Father is being attacked and the dignity of the Church is being undermined, silence is not neutrality. It is complicity,\" said Denise Murphy McGraw.

Trump Pope Leo XIV conflict lands near US midterms and polling

The dispute comes six months before voting begins in this fall’s midterms. Trump is facing low approval ratings and unrest among MAGA supporters over the Iran war. Some allies expect the clash to fade. \"There is a deep reservoir of appreciation for the president and his faith-based policies that transcends and eclipses any disagreement over a social media post,\" Ralph Reed told AP.

AP VoteCast showed white evangelical Protestants were central to Trump’s 2024 coalition. About 34% of Trump voters identified as white evangelical or born-again Christians. Only 8% of Harris voters did. White evangelicals were about 2 in 10 voters, and 79% supported Trump. A February AP-NORC poll found about two-thirds approved of Trump’s job handling.

The same AP-NORC poll showed weaker support among Catholics. Only about 4 in 10 Catholics approved of Trump’s performance. The Catholic Association also criticised the approach toward Pope Leo XIV. \"Insulting the Pope, and all Catholics by extension, with the hope of making the Church bend to American political agendas, is discouraging and counterproductive,\" said Ashley McGuire.

Phil Klay, a Catholic author and Marine Corps veteran, argued Leo may view the dispute beyond daily politics. Speaking at a Georgetown University panel on Monday, Klay said, \"The churchs role is not to win a news cycle or a social media slap fight, but to calmly articulate timeless truths.\" Klay added, \"I think thats what Pope Leo is doing and I think we should listen and pray.\"

With inputs from PTI