A pope calling for world peace is not typically front page news – until his message gets criticized by those at war.
When Pope Leo called the war in Iran "truly unacceptable" and warned that a "delusion of omnipotence" was driving the conflict, President Trump and other U.S. leaders decided to hit back.
Pontiff vs. President
Here’s a quick rundown of events. Trump recently called the pope "weak on crime" and "terrible for Foreign Policy."
He then doubled down, and refused to apologize:
Leo – the first American to hold the office – replied that he had "no fear" of the administration and would keep preaching the Gospel's call to peace.
On Thursday, Leo delivered a follow up message:
The Just War Question
But the president was not alone in criticizing the pope. Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, took a theological approach. Vance invoked "more than a 1,000-year tradition of just war theory" to suggest Leo had overreached.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson echoed this sentiment, and said that the pope had it coming by “wading into political waters.”
Putting aside the notion of a recent convert lecturing the leader of 1.2 billion Catholics on questions of theology (something many critics took issue with), it’s worth exploring the idea of just war theory and where it stems from.
As it happens, Leo just recently honored St. Augustine, one of the tradition's founding thinkers. He’s also somewhat of an expert in this area.
What Is Just War Theory?
Just war theory, developed by Augustine in the 5th century, holds that armed conflict is morally permissible only when it meets a clear set of criteria. For a war to be just, it must be:
- Declared by a legitimate authority
- Fought for a just cause (typically defense against aggression)
- Waged as a last resort after peaceful options are exhausted
- Inflict harm proportional to the good achieve
- Protect civilians
- Have a reasonable chance of success
Miss any one of those bars, and the theory holds that the conflict is unjust – regardless of how righteous the aggressors claim their cause is.
Catholic Leaders Unite Behind Leo
So does the Iran conflict qualify as a “just war?” Catholic leaders around the world are not so sure.
Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington has said the Iran campaign fails that test, calling it a “moral failure which under Catholic just war principles renders both the initiation of this war and any continuation of it morally illegitimate.”
Bishop James Massa, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, agreed, noting that “For over a thousand years, the Catholic Church has taught just war theory and it is that long tradition the Holy Father carefully references in his comments on war.”
Popular Pope, Unpopular President
What makes this conflict between pope and president striking is not just what Leo is saying, but how he is building the case. Unlike Pope Francis – known for provocative sound bites that sometimes alienated factions within the church, including American bishops – Leo has cultivated broad, methodical support across the global church before speaking.
Francesco Sisci, director of the Appia Institute in Rome, put it plainly: "Francis was a rock star, but Leo is the conductor of an orchestra."
Pope Leo is hardly the first pope to get involved in world affairs.
Related: 5 Times a Pope Took On Powerful World Leaders
The new pontiff has also been consistent in his support of peace since assuming the role. Earlier in his pontificate, Leo drew widespread attention for condemning the killing of civilians in Gaza. His messaging on the Iran conflict is an extension of the same underlying philosophy.
His approach also appears to be working, at least if you look at public opinion. Leo holds a 34-point net-positive approval rating among U.S. registered voters, compared with a 12-point net-negative for the president, according to an NBC News survey from March.
For a church still rebuilding its standing after decades of clerical abuse scandals, Leo's willingness to confront power directly is widely seen as an opportunity.
Cardinal Michael Czerny, a senior Vatican official, framed the stakes in theological terms: "How to live the gospel in the real world? That is inevitably political. When necessary we have to speak truth to power."
What is your reaction?
23 comments
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Rev. Carol M Anaski-Figurski
Interesting article. Trump is right & there is no need to apologize. The pope Leo needs to pray for America & bless w wisdom discernment, strength & courage. Those global threats are real & documented in literature of wiping Israel off the map on10.28.2028 per foz friends of zion. A soldiers prayer is a must. For God's Blessing in battle. or norse like star wars the ride to Valhalla & the prayers creed. Pope Leo needs to add more verses to his doctrine, it is not peace time. the bible say wars %rumors of wars to the end of time. I loved hegths prayer tis great to see also the presidents prayer too. Keep on praying & fight the battle. Blessed be amen.
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Rev. Roe
Perhaps Trump wants to be the AntiChrist?? The chosen one?
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Keith D
As usual, a Pope virtue signaling where that office has been responsible for genocides on 'heretics' since perhaps two seconds after Augustine brought forth the doctrine. ...by "manipulate(ing) religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth." (Quote from above statement by Leo).
I suppose it's 'never too late' to metanoia, but the previous Pope faulted Trump's wall, while ensconced in an utter Bunker of walls, extreme security and deep, dank secrecy, hiding key writings from early CE for its own gain. Hypocrisy is not lonely inside those walls.
Meantime, no, the war is being waged for all the wrong reasons cited by the Pope, so... when you're right, you're right. But it'd have a lot more clout if the hypocrisy and ironies weren't so ripe.
Viz religion, sometimes secularism is more moral and more spiritual, exactly because it forces people to know themselves, unless they make a 'religion" of their identity group or culture, which is just religion utterly without a soul.
Know thyself, the good, the bad and the ugly. REALLY know. Else the Trumps and Leos and Speaker Johnsons (ewww) and WEF will rule. And THAT is a spiritual crime: doing it AND letting them.
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ServantOfJudgement
The Iranians begged for oppression like the woke here does and they got it. I'm fine with them stoning women for covering up their pretty hair, hanging gays from cranes and even chopping up their own unarmed protesters. That's what the liberal Iranians wanted. I'm very happy for them. It's a dream come true, it's the Iranian dream.
They can even blow up, blast out and chop down all their neighbors. They're all living the Islamic peaceful life. Let all the neighbors of Iran choke each other with blood soaked and slippery hands. Allah akanat or whatever. Super happy they're happy.
If they kill one American, just one. Level the entire region with zero care for anything at all. Don't even let their tears touch the earth before they evaporate. They have killed Americans though haven't they.
I'm upset that our President showed restraint. I'd have liked it if there wasn't anything left of Iran to talk about.
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Nicholas J Page
Trump has lost his mind calling the Pope weak look at the crime rate in the US shootings every day Etc considering Trump was a draft dodger 5 times he can talk One minute he's going to obliterate Iran next he's hoping for a ceasefire
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Colleen McAllister
The Bible says that the war/s in the Middle East will.not end until Jesus the Messiah comes back to end it. Until then Trumps posturing as a peacemaker is just that. Quite pathetic actually. As to the Pope, it is his job to speak out about what the Bible is telling us. I am not Catholic but recognize his authority nevertheless. Trump doesn't even know how to hold a Bible let alone understand any of it. Probably never tried to read one, either. We all need to ignore Trump's fantasies and get him out of office.
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Michael Hunt
It's hysterical to me that far-right politicians who make their faith a cornerstone of their identity think that they know more about theology than the Pope, a man who lead the religious order of the man who wrote the "just war doctrine." Pope Leo is maybe the best person to speak about "just war doctrine" and yet here's the far-right MAGAts telling the expert they know more than him. All this to justify a war Trump started without any plan for finishing it, nor even a plan to wage it, it seems.
Why are we at war with Iran? Why is Trump threatening war crimes as a negotiation tactic? What is the end goal of this conflict?
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David W. Dube
Not Just At All.
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Rev. Miche'al Yosef Dixon
By Their own standards "war to be just, it must be: 1) Declared by a legitimate authority Fought for a just cause (typically defense against aggression). 2) Waged as a last resort after peaceful options are exhausted. 3) Inflict harm proportional to the good achieve Protect civilians. 4) Have a reasonable chance of success." Let's look closer Iran didn't exist until the revolution of 1979 the rightful rulers the King and his family direct blood descendants of Queen Esther of Hebrew Scriptures Ruled Persia. The United States of America provided asylum and a Promise to restore the rightful rulers to the throne of Persia. The group in charge of Iran declared War on the United States of America in 1979 and every 5 to 7 years since launch major attacks on the United States of America soil starting with taking hostage 250 American Citizens on a plane, killing 12 American Embassy personal and an attack on a British cruise ship in the Mediterranean. They provided Iranian citizens in the attack 1992 and 2001 on the world trade center. Subway bombing in Spain they claimed targeting Americans. Every Democrat president has tried to make peace and met with attacks. These is facts people wake up and smell the coffee. Iran has no intention of making peace and will continue to kill American Citizens until the psychopaths are removed. Plain and simple.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
You failed to mention Israel and Iran were allies. And Israel considered Iran their most important ally.
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Sir Lionheart
Yes, the Pope, who is just merely another human being, like all of us, will continue to promote peace, as though everyone on earth will listen to him, even though he would possibly be the first one in the line of sight of fundamentalist Islamic revolutionary’s. In their eyes, if we don’t bow down to Allah, we are all infidels and need to be cast out and eradicated off the face of the earth to please their god.
Hopefully, he is thankful that USA has paved the way for peace to coexist world wide for quite a while no matter what religion, or not, people choose.
🦁❤️
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Reverend Paula Copp
Peace? PEACE? Your idea of peace is genocide. Wrong answer… as usual.
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Sir Lionheart
Do you find it very difficult when people disagree with you? Iran, and other fundamental Islamists were killing its own people by the thousands for merely wanting change and peace from Islam. If Iran had a nuclear weapon others could easily have been next due to their religious ideology. Even Hillary, Kamala, Obama, and Biden opined their concerns about Iran but never did anything about it, even though they said they would. So, yes, we now get to have peace now that the scourge of fundamental Islam has been abated, hopefully…….for the time being. I’m sorry you see things differently, possibly due to not being forced to live under a strict Islamic regime.
Hopefully, you will now find there is a financial war to keep Iran in check from being able to profit and rebuild its weaponry infrastructure. It’s early days so let’s see how that goes during the next 2 plus years. I doubt there are going to be many wars as quick as this one.
🦁❤️
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ServantOfJudgement
Ahem Paula, lionheart is talking about Islam committing genocide...
...this the part where you say something about Islam .....uh, committing genocide..err uh, jihad I mean...
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Reverend Paula Copp
Yo, soj. Israel is committing genocide. Please get a clue. They are not friends to us.
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PKBW
The regime of Iran needs to be finished. Done, obliterated, until then every man, women and child can live in fear. Sorry that civilians may get killed but that is casualties of war. The kill their own people all the time anyway. Pope is probably the antichrist anyway, that's what I've read.
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Reverend Paula Copp
Your argument has no merit. You’ve just given all the reasons why the war with Iran is unjustified and unjustifiable. You’re talking about GENOCIDE, and that is against everything Jesus taught. As for the Pope being the Antichrist, that’s too silly to even consider. I don’t know where you’re finding your information sources, but you might think about getting a more reliable ones.
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PKBW
Do you read any books? Then it tells you he is here a public figure and someone you would never believe. Along with these numbers that are mentioned in the Bible. Revalations needs to be explained to you. As for genocide, would you rather have Iran do it to us? They kill their own people on site. If we wouldn't have done to Hiroshima in WWII what language do you think you would be speaking today. US was at the brink of losing that war , if you read history books. Hope you like wearing scarves.
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Reverend Paula Copp
I’m a retired English professor. I’ve read more books in a year than you knew existed. Your logic is faulty, your usage is poor and your grasp of facts is limited. Best of luck trying to find truth in your chaotic universe .
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ServantOfJudgement
PKBW,
When you have free time, search out pictures of the popes throne room. It's quite satanic.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Such hatred. - You can't be a Christian as this is NOT what Jesus teaches.
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PKBW
But we can't let them take over with their ways,, can we? It's not hateful, it is for the saving of our world. They have things we aren't even aware of. Do you want them to nuke us 1st?
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in addendum, Equal opportunity sign up for selective service needs to be added to the December 2026 plan for women to mandatory fill out the form readiness automation of the draft list. Since Congress past the law that women in military 2018. God bless women in combat for www 3. We are living in exciting times & futuristically other countries have strong forces because of women in the military.