Yes, this really happened!
Singer Madonna expressed her disapproval of Pope Leo’s message in a recent comment on Catholic News Agency’s Instagram page.
Catholic News Agency’s story centered on his priority as Pope: the Gospel.Catholic News Agency reported,“Pope Leo XIV said his primary role as leader of the Church is confirming Catholics in their faith and sharing the Gospel with the world, not resolving global crises.”Here is the full post below:
Madonna / Catholic News Agency, Instagram“The whole point of teaching and learning the gospel is to inspire people to love one another and make the world a better place. Not just with words but with actions, which is exactly what Jesus did. I am truly disappointed by this.”
This is not the first time Madonna has criticized or called out the pope.
In 2022, she requested a meeting with Pope Francis. In August of 2025, Madonna publicly requested that Pope Leo visit Gaza.
Madonna was raised Catholic and attended Catholic school, but does not currently affiliate herself with the faith. She has been criticized over the years multiple times for blaspheming Catholicism in her music and art.
“The core of Madonna’s message is this: ‘Actions matter more than words, even more than the words of Jesus himself, which is the gospel.’“Imagine a gospel where there was no preaching of the truth, just miracles. Where there was no call to conversion, just a guy going around doing nice things because he wanted to. If that were the case, why would he be crucified? The narrative doesn’t fit.“Jesus wasn’t crucified because he was nice. He was crucified for calling us all to conversion, for showing us how to truly love as he loved, with purpose and intention, rightly ordered and driven by ultimate truth, the same truth that caused him to hang from the cross. “Actions matter, yes. But the intention behind the action is even more important. The world doesn’t just need more kind actions. It needs conversion. And that comes by hearing the Word first, and living it out second – Just like Jesus did. Not one or the other.”