And it's that in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, Trump stated that the actions of the leader of the Catholic Church put Catholics and the population at risk.

“I think it's putting many Catholics and many people in danger,” he said, adding that the Pope considers acceptable for Iran to possess nuclear weapons.

The Pope, a American citizen, has requested on several occasions the cessation of hostilities and the resumption of negotiations to reach a peace agreement. Although he hasn't led c explicit criticisms to the president, Leo XIII gave understood, without saying it directly, that he didn't like how the government of the United States was acting with the war in Iran.

Trump's controversy

Trump has responded to these comments with direct attacks. Last month, he published in Truth Social a message in which he rated the pope as “weak on crime and terrible on foreign policies”.

Additionally, he disseminated an artificial intelligence manipulated image that showed him as Jesus Christ, generating controversy even within his political base; he later removed the post, claiming that the intention was to represent himself as a doctor.

Catholic members of the administration, like Vice President Vance, have intervened to minimize the pope's comments about the conflict, suggesting that the Vatican should limit itself to questions of morality and internal matters of the Church, while the president of the United States dictates foreign policy.

Marco Rubio at the Vatican

For his part, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold a “frank conversation” with Leo

Meanwhile, Brian Burch, U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, noted that the trip seeks to strengthen dialogue and brotherhood between both nations, emphasizing that differences must be addressed through understanding and direct negotiation.