Trump harshly criticizes the Pope: "If I weren't in the White House, he wouldn't be able to enter the Vatican"

Trump posted that the Pope is weak in combating crime and utterly disastrous in diplomacy. Pope Francis, currently on a visit to Africa, stated he is not afraid of the Trump administration, saying, "Someone must stand up."

On Sunday night, U.S. President Trump launched an unusually fierce attack on Pope Francis. On his social media platform "Truth Social," he posted that the American-born global Catholic leader "is weak in fighting crime and utterly disastrous in diplomacy." Previously, Trump had told journalists he was not a fan of Pope Francis.

Pope Francis hinted over the weekend that the war between Israel and Iran was driven by a "god complex." According to an Associated Press report, disagreements between the Pope and the president are not uncommon, but it is extremely rare for the Pope to publicly criticize the U.S. president—making Trump’s sharp response even more exceptional.

Trump said, "I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s okay for Iran to have nuclear weapons. I don’t want a Pope who believes it’s wrong for the U.S. to attack Venezuela… I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the U.S. president…" He accused Pope Francis of "hurting the Catholic Church" and warned him to "stop pandering to radical leftists."

The U.S. president also remarked that Pope Francis should feel fortunate, saying, "It's well known that his election shocked everyone. He wasn’t even on any list of potential papal candidates. The Church chose him simply because he is American—they believed this was the best way to deal with the Trump presidency. If I weren’t in the White House, he wouldn’t be in the Vatican."

Trump recently posted a photo on "Truth Social" showing himself wearing a robe, placing his hand on a bedridden man whose body glows with light. A soldier, a nurse, a praying woman, and a man wearing a baseball cap are standing nearby, gazing at him in admiration. Above them, an eagle soars through the sky, the American flag flies proudly, and hazy images float in the atmosphere. The image clearly suggests Trump possesses saint-like, Christ-like divine powers.

Pope: Someone Must Stand Up

On Monday, April 13, while en route to Algeria, the Pope responded, stating he would continue speaking out against war, emphasizing that Christianity is rooted in the principle of peace—but has often been "misused."

Reuters commentary noted that as the leader of global Catholics, it is extremely rare for Pope Francis to publicly challenge a national leader.

The Pope declared, "I will continue loudly calling out against war, striving for peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relations among nations, and seeking just solutions to problems." He will begin a ten-day tour of four African countries in Algiers.

Pope Francis said, "There are too many people suffering in today’s world. Too many innocent lives are being lost. I believe someone must step forward and show there are better ways." He told reporters, "I am not afraid of the Trump administration, nor do I fear speaking out loudly."

Source: DW

Original: toutiao.com/article/1862375035023368/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of its author