President Trump emphatically refused to back down from his ongoing war of words with Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war – warning him to keep out of politics.

The commander in chief told CBS Monday US-born Leo, 70, is “wrong on the issues,” adding: “I don’t think he should be getting into politics. I think he’s probably learned that from this.”

Trump was also asked if he planned to call Leo, the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, amid the ongoing spat, to which he replied, “no.”

President Trump speaking to King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, with First Lady Melania Trump visible in the background.
President Trump, pictured speaking with the King of the Netherlands, has refused to back down amid his war of words with Pope Leo XIV.Bloomberg via Getty Images
The president said he wasn’t sure if the Pope would visit Washington during his time in office.

During the interview, Trump explained why he deleted an AI-generated image that appeared to depict him as Jesus, saying it caused confusion.

Trump has previously accused the pontiff of being “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” and doubled down on the claims earlier Monday.

Illustration of Donald Trump in a white robe and red sash healing a man in a hospital bed, surrounded by figures including soldiers, a nurse, and people praying, with eagles, military jets, the Statue of Liberty, fireworks, and the U.S. flag in the background.
Trump explained why he deleted an AI-generated post that depicted him as Jesus.REUTERS
“He was very much against what I’m doing with regard to Iran, and you cannot have a nuclear Iran. Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result,” Trump told reporters as he refused to apologize.

Meanwhile, Leo said he’s not afraid of the US administration, revealing he doesn’t want to get into a debate with Trump as he continues his crusade for peace over conflict.

“I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for,” he told reporters on board the papal plane en-route to Algiers, Algeria.

“I will continue to speak out strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems.

“We are not politicians, we don’t deal with foreign policy with the same perspective he might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker.”

A man in red and white robes, identified as Pope Leo XIV, speaks in a church.
Pope Leo says he’s not afraid of the Trump administration.Getty Images
Trump’s attacks on Leo have sparked fury among his allies in Rome.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – the only European leader to attend Trump’s second inauguration – branded the president’s attacks on Leo “unacceptable.”

“The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and ​it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn every form of war,” she said.

Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who has previously supported Trump, said the attacks did not “seem either wise or helpful.”

Before his election in May 2025, Leo, previously known as Robert Francis Prevost, amplified criticism of the Administration’s policies, which included re-sharing posts made by the Catholic commentator Rocco Palmo.

His final X post before being elected by the conclave was a retweet of Palmo’s criticism of Trump’s partnership with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele on the deportation of illegal migrants.