By Andoni Biurrarena - Archdiocese of Miami

MIAMI SHORES, Fla | As President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of Pope Leo XIV with a series of social media posts, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski offered a measured response, saying tensions between the papacy and political leaders are nothing new.

Speaking Monday April 13, Archbishop Wenski pointed to past clashes between the Church and world leaders, including Pope John Paul II’s opposition to the Iraq War despite disagreement from President George W. Bush.

“I think President Bush at that time certainly didn’t agree with him, but he didn’t rant about it,” Wenski said.The latest dispute comes as Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly called for peace amid the ongoing war in Iran, condemning what he described as the conflict’s “absurd and inhuman violence.”

On April 7, Pope Leo called Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization “truly unacceptable,” urging political leaders to reject war and pursue peace. Days later, he warned against what he described as a “delusion of omnipotence” driving the conflict, now in its seventh week.

Trump’s criticism

Trump responded with a series of posts on Truth Social, calling the pontiff “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” and accusing him of undermining U.S. leadership.

“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” Trump wrote, adding that he was acting on the mandate of his election victory.

He also suggested the pope’s election was tied to his American background and urged him to “get his act together,” accusing him of catering to the political left.

 

Pope thick skin

Wenski dismissed the significance of the attacks, saying the pope is unlikely to be shaken.“You don’t become a pope without having developed a thick skin over the years,” he said.

“He will continue to witness to the Gospel and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.”

Speaking to journalists Monday aboard a flight to Algeria, Pope Leo declined to respond directly to Trump’s remarks but reaffirmed his message.

“The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone,” he said. “The message of the Gospel is very clear: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’”

The pope added that the Church’s mission differs fundamentally from political leadership. "I have no fear of the Trump administration, or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the church is here to do. We are not politicians,” he said.

“We don’t deal with foreign policy with the same perspective, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel as a peacemaker.”

Wenski emphasized that the pope’s role is not to seek approval from public opinion or political leaders.“He doesn’t do what he does to please the crowd,” Wenski said. “The only person the pope really has to please is the Lord.”