Left: U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as he speaks to reporters before signing two executive orders regarding quantum computing, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 22, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Right: Pope Leo arrives at the Pavia Cathedral during his visit to Pavia, Italy, June 20, 2026. REUTERS/Yara Nardi
President Donald Trump’s longstanding feud with Pope Leo XIV may reach new heights as the leader of the Catholic Church convenes with cardinals from across the globe Friday and is expected to issue a message “likely to further raise tensions” with the president, Politico reported Friday.
After the gathering, Pope Leo is expected to issue new guidance on what the Catholic Church considers to be a justified war. The anticipated remarks come after the leader of the Catholic Church appeared to criticize the U.S. war against Iran, prompting Trump to attack the pope for being “weak on crime.”
“Senior clergy expected that the gathering of cardinals could move toward stricter definitions of when war is justified in self-defense – particularly relevant in relation to Iran – and impose greater demands for negotiation before potential conflicts,” Politico’s report reads.
Among those supportive of the Catholic Church renewing its guidance as it relates to justified war is Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who told Politico that modern technology has fundamentally transformed war when compared to the Catholic Church-backed Crusades that began in the 11th century.
“Because of the cataclysmic encounters that we’ve had and also the potential danger that’s there, I think the pope wants to take advantage of bringing to bear all of the modern considerations that now have, in a very real way, altered the nature of warfare,” Broglio told Politico.
In April, amid Trump’s spat with Pope Leo, the president shared an image of himself depicted as a Jesus Christ-like figure, further raising tensions between the White House and the Catholic Church.