Trump's spat with the Pope

Meloni and Trump in a verbal spat about the Pope: "You're the one who's unacceptable"

Donald Trump's spat with the Pope is spreading, and now seems to have created a rift in the relationship with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, one of the president's closest European allies, writes The Guardian.

The other day, Meloni called Trump's criticism of the Pope "unacceptable", and on Tuesday the president hit back in an interview in Corriere della Sera.

- Unacceptable? You're the one who's unacceptable!

Trump was also critical of Meloni for not being "brave" enough to participate in the US war against Iran.

Meloni himself, however, believes that the exchange of words has been given too much space.

- When you are friends and allies [...] you also have to have the courage to speak out when you disagree, Meloni tells Corriere TV.

Vance joins Trump's criticism of the Pope

US Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, agrees with Donald Trump's criticism of Pope Leo's stance on the Iran war. During a stage conversation in Georgia, Vance questioned the expression that "God never stands on the side of those who once swung the sword and today drop bombs".

He points out that he understands that one of the Pope's roles is to be anti-war, but when he asks himself whether God was on the side of the Americans when they liberated France from the Nazis, the answer for him is obviously yes.

- I think it is very important that the Pope be careful when he speaks about theological issues, Vance continued.

Pope Leo has consistently criticized the Iran war and said on Monday that he is not afraid of the Trump administration or of "clearly proclaiming the message of the Gospel". 

Trump launches new attack on the Pope: "Totally unacceptable"

Donald Trump launches a renewed attack on Pope Leo XIV after the conflicts of recent days.

"Can someone tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed protesters in the last two months, and that it is completely unacceptable that Iran should have a nuclear weapon".

The Pope has repeatedly criticized the US war in Iran. Donald Trump has vented his irritation with the leader of the Catholic world several times recently.