Pope Leo rejects claim he supports nuclear weapons after Trump tirade
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- Pope Leo firmly stated he has never supported nuclear weapons and emphasized the church's consistent opposition to them, responding to Donald Trump's accusations that his stance on the Iran war endangers Catholics.
- Trump criticized the pope for allegedly endorsing Iran's right to nuclear weapons, accusing him of putting many people at risk, and has previously attacked Leo on foreign policy and crime issues.
- The pope plans to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican to ease tensions caused by Trump's remarks, with expectations of a frank but diplomatically necessary conversation.
- Rubio's meeting with the pope and subsequent discussions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni appear aimed at maintaining diplomatic relations amid political friction involving Trump and his administration.
- Vatican correspondent Andrea Vreede noted the personal nature of Trump's attacks on the pope, likening the conflict to historical power struggles between popes and emperors, and suggested Trump's rivalry with Rubio may have fueled the recent outburst.
