Pope Leo XIV says he does not fear Trump, citing Gospel as he pushes back in feud over Iran war<\/a><\/p>\n“I don’t think it’s helpful, especially an environment that we’re all kind of hungry for peace. I think it’s kind of kicking the nest, as it were, and making enmity when you should be looking for friendship,” said Loyola University Professor of Theology Michael Murphy.<\/p>\n
And an AI-generated image of Trump, looking Jesus-like while putting his hand on the head of a man in a hospital bed, offended a number of Loyola students.<\/p>\n
“That’s a messianic move. That is a big no-no. That really, really bothers Catholics of all stripes. That’s a bridge too far,” Murphy said.<\/p>\n
The president posted it and later took it down.<\/p>\n
“I saw the image this morning when I woke up, and it was pretty disturbing,” said Loyola University student Ruby Tewahade.<\/p>\n
“I think it is pretty blasphemous. What I think is, it’s really insane how Trump is trying to pick a fight with the pope,” said Cally, another Loyola University student.<\/p>\n
At Our Lady of the Holy Family Church in Little Italy, some attending evening Mass also criticized Trump on Monday night.<\/p>\n
“I believe he’s got no shame. He has just, he has no shame,” said attendee Dahyana Hoagland.<\/p>\n
“This is kind of like a continuation of, like, an abnormal kind of like leadership in the highest office in the country,” said attendee Stephen Ontko.<\/p>\n
Trump blamed what he called fake news for misinterpreting the image.<\/p>\n
“I just heard about it, and I said, ‘How did they come up with that? It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better,'” Trump said.<\/p>\n
Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, appeared on Fox News Channel.<\/p>\n
“I think the president was posting a joke, and of course, he took it down, because he recognized a lot of people weren’t recognizing his humor in that case,” Vance said.<\/p>\n
But some supporters of the president remain critical. Minnesota Bishop Robert Barron said the president should apologize, and Republican Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood said in a statement, “Faith teaches us to show grace and respect, even when we disagree. The President’s comments toward Pope Leo fell short of that mark.”<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the pope made it clear that he will not shy away from speaking out against the war in Iran.<\/p>\n
“The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone, and the message of the gospel is very clear, blessed are the peacekeepers,” Pope Leo said.<\/p>\n
While the pope intends to keep speaking his mind, Murphy expects he will be artful and circumspect.<\/p>\n
“And so, I think the Pope has the truth on his side, and that is doing what he’s doing, fostering peace. And I think somehow this president feels threatened by that,” Murphy said.<\/p>\n
He also thinks the president’s comments could cost him and his Republican allies some Catholic votes in the November election.<\/p>\n
A majority of Catholic voters cast their ballots for Trump in the last election. It is unclear how this controversy will impact that support.<\/p>\n
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