Pope Rejects Nuclear Weapons Use

Pope Leo Denies Nuclear Weapons Support Pope Leo XIV, speaking from Castel Gandolfo near Rome on Tuesday, May 6, 2026, publicly denied allegations of supporting nuclear weapons, specifically in relation to the Iran conflict. This statement directly addressed accusations made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed the Pope was "endangering a lot of Catholics" with his stance on the Iran war.

The Pontiff emphasized the Church's consistent opposition to all nuclear weapons, stating, "the church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, there is no doubt about that." He urged critics to engage with truth, asserting that the Church's mission is to preach peace. This interaction follows a series of public disagreements between Pope Leo and Donald Trump regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran.

The Pope is scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican on Thursday, May 8, 2026, in an effort to de-escalate tensions. This meeting, sought by Rubio for several weeks, is anticipated to involve a "frank" conversation, according to U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch. The encounter aims to address the strained relationship between the Vatican and the Trump administration, which has been exacerbated by recent exchanges.