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A growing war of words between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV is drawing mixed reactions from Catholics in New York City, according to reporting by Gloria Pazmino.
Pazmino attended Sunday mass to speak with churchgoers about the escalating tensions, which began after the pope criticized the Iran war and Trump responded with a sharp social media attack.
Among those interviewed was Anita Bauman, a Catholic who also voted for Trump. She expressed disappointment with the president’s approach, saying, “I don’t think it helps the president at all. I think it’s colossally stupid. And I say that as a Catholic and as a person who voted for Trump. But I think that it’s just not the battle to pick.”
Bauman described the situation as an “uncomfortable moment,” adding that she believes there are “better ways” for the two figures to handle disagreements. “I would rather see [Trump] try to come to some accord with the Holy Father and with the church’s position,” she said, while acknowledging, “You know, I do think that things needed to be done in Iran.”
Other Catholics echoed similar concerns. Lola Reese said she would prefer to see Trump “back off and kind of calm down” his “streak of little meanness here and there.” Meanwhile, Steve Gordon took a more balanced view, noting there is room for disagreement but emphasizing caution. He said there is a “space” for differing opinions, but “you have to be careful about how you put out that message.”
The tensions intensified after Trump launched a fiery post on April 12, criticizing the pope as “WEAK” on crime and the issue of a nuclear Iran. He also remarked that he was a bigger fan of the pope’s brother, Louis Prevost, describing him as a “big MAGA person.”
Trump’s remarks came shortly after Pope Leo condemned rhetoric surrounding the Iran conflict. The pope criticized threats to destroy a “whole civilization,” calling such language “truly unacceptable,” and later added, “God does not bless any conflict.”
Despite the backlash, Trump has stood firm, stating, “there’s nothing to apologize for. He’s wrong!” However, he appeared to soften his tone later, saying, “I have nothing against the pope… the pope can say what he wants, and I want him to say what he wants. But I can disagree.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson also weighed in, defending Trump and arguing that if the pope engages in political discussions, he “should expect some political response.”
For his part, Pope Leo signaled a desire to de-escalate tensions, saying he had no intention of amplifying any “narrative” suggesting a feud between the two.
