Pope Leo XIV has rejected Donald Trump’s claim that he supports Iran having a nuclear weapon, insisting instead that the Church has long opposed nuclear arms and that violence must remain a last resort.
Speaking to reporters outside the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo on May 5, the Pope said the Church’s mission is to preach the Gospel and to preach peace. If he is to be criticised for that, he added, then he should at least be criticised truthfully.
Leo’s remarks came after Trump had accused him of being relaxed about the prospect of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon. The Pope flatly rejected that suggestion, saying there was no ambiguity in the Church’s position and that it had spoken against all nuclear weapons for many years.
