Iranian president condemns Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV as an insult and desecration of Jesus
via Punch Nigeria20 hours ago1 min read
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about Pope Leo XIV, calling them an insult to the pontiff and a desecration of Jesus Christ. Trump had criticized Pope Leo XIV, stating he is “not a big fan” and describing him as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.” These comments were made in response to the 70-year-old American pope’s criticism of ongoing conflicts involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Trump also accused the pontiff of unfairly criticizing his administration while overlooking actions against religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. He further stated he does not “want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon” and claimed, “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.” Pezeshkian reacted on X, writing, “His Holiness Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex, I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah.” The U.S., under Trump's directive and in collaboration with Israel, launched missile strikes on Iran in February under Operation Epic Fury, leading to retaliation from Iran. A reconciliation meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, ended in deadlock over the weekend.
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Original source
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
