Trump, Pope Leo feud publicly. Here's who said what (and when)

An unusual feud between President Donald Trump and the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, has broken out in recent days over the United States and Israel's war with Iran, even drawing in other international religious leaders.

The pope has been outspoken in his criticism of the war, which Trump said he launched Feb. 28 to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. A tenuous ceasefire is underway, but so far peace talks between U.S. and Iranian leaders have failed to reach a resolution.

"Blessed are the peacemakers. But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth," Leo said on April 16, while in Cameroon during a four-country trip to Africa.

"The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants," he said, not specifically naming Trump or the war against Iran.

The remarks are the latest in a series of comments condemning international violence. And Trump and Vice President JD Vance have both issued criticisms of Leo, the first U.S.-born pope.

Here is how the verbal sparring between Trump and Leo unfolded:

Trump, Israel wage war against Iran

The war began on Feb. 28 with strikes on key Iranian targets, including attacks that killed the country’s longtime supreme leader. U.S. officials said the war was necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran responded with attacks around the region, including in Israel, and by blocking key oil artery the Strait of Hormuz.

Since the war began, more than 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, according to counts by its forensic chief and by U.S.-based rights group HRANA. Lebanese officials say at least 1,830 people have been killed in Israeli strikes. Thirteen U.S. service members were killed and hundreds have been wounded. Scores of deaths in Iraq, Israel and other Middle Eastern countries have also been confirmed.

Trump's threat against Iranian 'civilization' was 'unacceptable,' pope said

On Easter Sunday, Trump said that if Iran didn't open the strait by his imposed deadline, he would order attacks on various infrastructure. Then on April 7, Trump threatened Iran again: "A whole civilization will die tonight."

Leo the same day called the threats "unacceptable."

“Today, as we all know, there was this threat against the entire people of Iran, and this is truly unacceptable,” Pope Leo told reporters. “There are certainly issues here of international law, but even more than that, it is a moral question for the good of the (world’s) people.”

"I would invite citizens of all the countries involved to contact the authorities, political leaders, congressmen, to ask them to work for peace and to reject war always," he said.

Pope responds to ceasefire deal

After a tenuous ceasefire deal was announced just hours before Trump's deadline, Leo on April 8 urged people to "accompany this moment of delicate diplomacy with prayer."

"Only by returning to negotiations can the war come to an end," Leo said.

On April 10, Leo posted on social media that disciples of Christ are “never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.”

During a prayer service on April 11, the pope decried the "delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive." The remarks came as U.S. and Iranian leaders met in Pakistan for peace talks, which ended without a resolution.

"Enough of the idolatry of self and money!" the pope said. "Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life."

Trump calls Leo 'WEAK on crime'

In a Truth Social post on April 12, Trump said Leo was "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy."

The post was a lengthy criticism of the pope, in which Trump also took credit for Leo's ascension to the papacy.

"Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician," Trump said.

How the pope responded to Trump's attacks

"I have no fear of the Trump administration, or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do," Pope Leo said on April 12. "I do not look at my role as being political, a politician. I don’t want to get into a debate with him. I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing."

Leo said the name of Trump's social media site, Truth Social, was "ironic... Say no more."

Trump shares AI Jesus images on social media

As the feud with the pope heated up, Trump also came under fire for posting an AI-generated image of himself in a Jesus-like depiction. His April 12 post showed Trump in a white robe and red shawl, laying his hand on the forehead of a man who appeared to be sick in bed.

The image sparked backlash, including from many American Catholics, who called it blasphemous. Though Trump deleted the post, and said he thought it showed him as a doctor rather than Jesus, he went on to post more AI-generated religious imagery of himself.

A post on April 15 depicted Trump being embraced by Jesus.

JD Vance says pope should 'be careful' talking about theology

Vance said on April 14 that Leo should "be careful" when discussing theology. The vice president, a converted Catholic, said at a rally he welcomed the pope commenting on topics such as immigration and abortion.

Vance said Leo was wrong that political figures should not wield the sword, and cited the U.S. liberation of France and Holocaust concentration camps as examples.

“I think it's very, very important for the Pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology,” Vance said.

Pope decries 'tyrants' who 'manipulate religion' for military gain

In Leo's latest comments on April 16, the pontiff said the world is "being ravaged by a handful of tyrants."

"The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild," he said.

Also on April 16, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, threw her support behind the pope in his "courageous call for a kingdom of peace."

Contributing: Reuters