Bishop Robert Barron has said that President Donald Trump owes Pope Leo XIV an apology, following remarks he made on Truth Social on Sunday evening, where he called the first American pope "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy." “The statements made by President Trump on Truth Social regarding the Pope were entirely inappropriate and disrespectful,” he wrote, adding, “I think the President owes the Pope an apology.” In response to a request for comment, the White House referred to Newsweek to Trump’s Truth Social Post. Why It Matters Trump's post marked a significant and personal escalation in an unprecedented feud between two of the world's most popular figures. Never before has a sitting U.S. president been in open conflict with an American pope. Trump’s post came after Pope Leo denounced the "delusion of omnipotence" fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. He demanded that political leaders stop fighting and negotiate peace, and though he did not directly name Trump or the U.S., his message has been widely interpreted as being directed at the administration. What To Know Barron, the Bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, wrote in a post on X, “It is the Pope’s prerogative to articulate Catholic doctrine and the principles that govern the moral life. In regard to the concrete application of those principles, people of good will can and do disagree.” He added that Catholics in the administration should meet with Vatican officials so that a real dialogue can take place. Barron said in his post that he is grateful for “the many ways that the Trump administration has reached out to Catholics and other people of faith,” and that “No President in my lifetime has shown a greater dedication to defending our first liberty.” He noted that despite that, “I think the President owes the Pope an apology.” His remarks come amidst wide criticism of the president’s remarks. The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, has condemned Trump’s remarks and said in a statement that he is “disheartened that the president chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father.” A petition calling for Trump to apologize has been signed by thousands of people since launching on Sunday night. Pope Leo has hit back following Trump’s criticism, and said that he has “no fear” of the Trump administration. In comments to The Associated Press aboard the papal plane, the Pope said: “To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is.” “I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today,” he said. What People Are Saying Pope Leo said on Saturday: "Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life." President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social: “Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn't on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican… 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. It's hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it's hurting the Catholic Church!” Bishop Robert Barron, said in a post on X: “I would warmly recommend that serious Catholics within the Trump administration–Secretary Rubio, Vice President Vance, Ambassador Brian Burch, and others–might meet with Vatican officials so that a real dialogue can take place. This is far preferable to the statements on social media.” What Happens Next As tensions between Pope Leo and the White House continue to escalate, recent surveys show the feud is impacting Trump’s support among Catholics.
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According to unverified accounts provided by a relative, Valivade served as a refuge for approximately 5,000 Polish refugees between 1942 and 1948, a period marked by the displacement of civilians following the 1939 invasion of Poland. The source claims that individual survivors, including a girl reportedly disguised to avoid danger, found temporary stability at the settlement, which is locally known as "Drugi Dom.
The United States and Israel have reportedly engaged in a regional conflict with Iran for nearly six months, during which Strait of Hormuz oil transit has remained significantly below prewar levels of 20 million barrels per day, despite U.S. officials claiming Navy escort operations.
Although the Strait typically facilitates over 20% of global energy trade, analysts suggest that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may continue to restrict normal transit even if diplomatic agreements are reached. Current tensions have escalated following the expiration of a reported 60-day ceasefire, prompting the U.
S. to announce new economic isolation measures while hostilities appear to have resumed.
Sudan’s civil war, which has persisted for nearly four years, has reportedly displaced over 13 million people and caused significant famine, with casualty estimates suggesting approximately 59,000 deaths. Recent U.S. officials have highlighted the severity of the humanitarian crisis, noting that two-thirds of the population requires aid, while reports from the UN Security Council indicate that armed drones have been responsible for the majority of recorded civilian deaths in the first half of the year.
Mediator Oman reported that the United States and Iran made progress in their negotiations regarding Tehran's nuclear program on Thursday. However, the hours-long talks concluded without a clear indication of a final agreement.