Retired New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan has described President Donald Trump's recent criticisms of Pope Leo as 'very unfortunate', as Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Vatican amid ongoing tensions over the Iran war.
Dolan's Remarks
Speaking with Fox News on Thursday, Dolan emphasised the importance of Rubio's visit to the Vatican, given the recent back-and-forth criticisms between the Trump administration and the Holy See. 'There's no denying the fact that this was especially pressing insofar as what I would consider the very unfortunate remarks of President Trump,' Dolan told anchor Martha MacCallum. 'The friendship between the Holy See and the American government has been strong and vibrant, and they both know they need each other.'
Dolan also expressed great respect for both Pope Leo and Rubio, underscoring the significance of the alliance between the world's preeminent political power and its 'most forceful spiritual power'. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
Background of the Feud
President Trump ignited the feud last month, accusing the pope of being soft on crime and terrorism after the pontiff criticised the administration's immigration policies and the war with Iran. Although tensions have eased somewhat in recent days, the president and the Catholic Church leadership remain at odds.
'Well, the Pope would rather talk about the fact that it's OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,' Trump said in an interview on The Hugh Hewitt Show on Sunday. 'I don't think that's very good.' He added, 'I think he's endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people, but I guess, if it's up to the Pope, he thinks it's just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.'
These comments drew a swift response from the Vatican. 'The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach peace,' Pope Leo told reporters on Tuesday. 'If someone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let him do so truthfully... For years, the Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt on that point.' Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, added on Wednesday, 'Attacking him like that or criticizing what he does seems a bit strange to me, to say the least.'
Rubio's Visit
During the Thursday visit, the pope and Rubio struck a diplomatic tone, exchanging gifts. Pope Leo gave Rubio a pen made of olive wood as a symbol of peace. However, the institutions they represent remain far apart. The pope has strongly criticised the Iran war from a religious perspective, arguing that the Gospel is on the side of peacemakers, though he has insisted he is not interested in partisanship or debating the Trump administration specifically.
'God does not bless any conflict; to cry out to the world that whoever is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, never stands on the side of those who yesterday wielded the sword and today drop bombs,' Pope Leo told a group of bishops in Iraq last month, in comments that set off the Trump firestorm.
The president soon fired back with criticisms of the pope, as did Vice President JD Vance, a practising Catholic, who suggested the pope was ignoring religious theory that blesses some just wars. The Trump administration further enraged Catholics last month after the president posted an image depicting himself as Jesus healing a sick man, though the president claimed the image was only meant to resemble a doctor. Beyond these recent flare-ups, tension has simmered for months, with church leaders criticising the Trump administration's military-style deportation crackdown on immigrants and the administration cancelling a longstanding partnership with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for refugee resettlement in 2025.
