Topline<\/p>\n
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth responded to Pope Leo XIV\u2019s frequent criticisms of the Iran war on Friday morning, telling reporters Leo is \u201cgoing to do his thing\u201d and that the United States military has \u201cevery authority necessary\u201d to fight, amid a mounting clash between the Trump administration and the Vatican.<\/p>\n
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed Pope Leo XIV’s criticisms of the war in Iran on Friday. (Photo by ANNABELLE GORDON \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
AFP via Getty ImagesKey Facts<\/p>\n
Hegseth, during a news conference Friday, said the Pope is \u201cgoing to do his thing\u201d and \u201cthat\u2019s fine\u201d after a reporter asked about Leo\u2019s criticisms of the war in Iran and a conference<\/a> of Catholic bishops suggesting the war violates the Church\u2019s just war theory.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know what our mission is. We know what authority we have. We’re very clear about that,\u201d Hegseth said, saying the military follows the orders of President Donald Trump and has \u201cevery authority necessary under the Constitution and under our laws\u201d to pursue the war in Iran.<\/p>\n Hegseth\u2019s comments come one day after Leo offered his latest critiques<\/a> of the war, telling reporters on his flight back to the Vatican from a pastoral visit to Africa \u201cmany innocent people have died\u201d and urging all parties involved to \u201cpromote peace, remove the threat of war, and respect international law.\u201d<\/p>\n Leo said the negotiations to end the war are unclear, saying, \u201cone day Iran says yes and the United States says no, and vice versa.\u201d<\/p>\n The war has created a \u201cchaotic, critical situation for the global economy,\u201d Leo said, adding, \u201cthere is also an entire population in Iran of innocent people suffering because of this war.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs a Church\u2014I repeat\u2014as a pastor, I cannot be in favor of war,\u201d Leo said.<\/p>\n How Have The Pentagon And Vatican Clashed Over The Iran War?<\/p>\n The Pentagon and the Catholic Church have sparred over the war in Iran, but a report in the Free Press claimed tensions between the Department of Defense and the Vatican date back to January, when Pentagon officials allegedly held a tense meeting with Church leaders. The Free Press claimed U.S. officials warned Church leaders to take the United States\u2019 side on international affairs, raising the subject of the Avignon Papacy\u2014a period in the 14th century when France overthrew the pope and exerted control over the Church. Pentagon officials denied the report as \u201chighly exaggerated\u201d and said the meeting was \u201crespectful.\u201d But Leo has since rebuked leaders for using religion as a justification for the war, as Hegseth has done. \u201cGod does not want this,\u201d Leo said<\/a> earlier this week. In March, Hegseth<\/a> prayed for troops to inflict \u201coverwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy \u2026 We ask these things with bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ.\u201d He also drew criticism for quoting<\/a> what appeared to be a monologue from \u201cPulp Fiction,\u201d saying it was a prayer adapted from a Bible verse, at a Pentagon worship service earlier this month.<\/p>\n How Have Trump And The Pope Sparred Over Iran?<\/p>\n Trump has criticized Leo multiple times this month over his opposition to the war, saying in a Truth Social<\/a> post the pope is \u201cWEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,\u201d urging him to get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense\u201d and \u201cstop catering to the Radical Left.\u201d Trump reportedly pulled<\/a> funding from a Catholic charity earlier this week that offers shelter and care to migrant children, and he said<\/a> last week he doesn\u2019t think meeting Leo\u2014whom he has never met\u2014is \u201cnecessary.\u201d Leo, the first pope from the United States, said last week<\/a> it is \u201cnot in my interest\u201d to debate Trump, also saying some of his remarks have been interpreted as shots at the president when they are really broader calls for peace. Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, also warned Leo last week to \u201cbe careful\u201d speaking on matters of theology, prompting an apparent rebuke<\/a> from the conference of U.S. Catholic bishops, which said Leo is speaking as \u201csupreme pastor of the universal Church\u201d and is upholding longstanding Catholic teachings that war is only justified \u201cin self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed.\u201d<\/p>\n Further Reading<\/p>\n