Meloni calls Trump remarks on Pope Leo 'unacceptable'

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about Pope Leo were “unacceptable,” a rare public criticism from a leader who has maintained notably close ties with the U.S. president. Her statement placed her alongside Italian politicians across the spectrum who moved to defend the pontiff after Trump’s remarks triggered a backlash among politicians and commentators.

Trump sparked the dispute with a lengthy tirade on Sunday in which he called Pope Leo “terrible,” according to the account. He later posted an AI-generated image portraying himself as a Jesus-like figure, which drew further anger among Christians who viewed it as blasphemous.

Pope Leo, described as the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, responded quickly. He told reporters he had “no fear” of the Trump administration and said he would continue speaking out against the U.S.-led war with Iran and in defence of migrants. The pope’s remarks came as he departed on what was described as an ambitious four-nation visit to Africa.

Meloni initially issued a statement supporting Leo as he left for the trip, but did not directly reference Trump’s broadside. Opposition politicians then accused her of lacking the courage to confront Trump, and she later released a second statement to clarify her position. “I find President Trump’s words towards the Holy Father 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.

The episode also prompted distancing from within Italy’s governing camp. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who has previously associated himself closely with Trump, said attacking the pope was neither “wise” nor “helpful,” describing Leo as a spiritual leader for billions of Catholics and as someone striving for peace.

Meloni was the only European leader to attend Trump’s inauguration in 2025, and she had hoped their relationship would strengthen her standing domestically and internationally. However, the report cited polling showing 66% of Italians hold a negative view of Trump, and pollsters said Meloni’s ties to the White House might have been a factor in her defeat last month in a referendum on judicial reform.

Several Italian figures framed the dispute in historical and cultural terms, reflecting the sensitivity of challenging the bishop of Rome in a country with millions of Catholic faithful. Former centre-left Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said it had been centuries since such a “blatant act of aggression” against the Roman pontiff had been seen, and argued that Catholics and non-believers alike should defend Leo.

Church historian Alberto Melloni referenced the proverb “chi mangia papa crepa,” and pointed to the House of Savoy’s 19th-century clashes with the Vatican as an example of temporal rulers being swept away while the papacy endured.

Antonio Spadaro, a Roman Catholic priest and undersecretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education, wrote on X that Trump’s attack showed Leo’s relevance, arguing that opposition itself signalled the pope’s words carried weight. While the political fallout remains uncertain, the dispute has already exposed strains for leaders navigating relations with Washington while facing strong domestic sensitivities around the papacy.