Donald Trump has launched an unusual and scathing attack on Pope Leo XIV over his opposition to US immigration policy and the war in Iran. The US president accused the pontiff of being 'weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy' in a post on Truth Social, and later told reporters that he was 'not a big fan'.

Pope Leo has been a staunch critic of the war, calling Trump's threat to destroy Iranian civilization 'unacceptable' and urging him to find an 'off-ramp' to end the conflict. He has also questioned whether Trump's hard-line immigration policy aligns with the pro-life stance of the Catholic Church.

Trump's remarks coincided with the Pope's 11-day trip to Africa, during which the pontiff emphasized his commitment to global peace and humanitarian aid. In his Sunday post, Trump admonished Pope Leo to 'get his act together', claiming he is 'weak on nuclear weapons', a reference to Iran's quest for nuclear capability which has fueled the conflict.

Additionally, Trump insinuated that the Pope was elected due to his American background as a strategic move to deal with him. 'If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican,' Trump speculated.

Critics swiftly condemned Trump's comments. Massimo Faggioli observed that 'Not even Hitler or Mussolini attacked the Pope so directly and publicly'.

The Pope has consistently used public addresses to condemn global conflicts, calling for the cessation of violence as many become desensitized to loss of life worldwide. His Easter address echoed a plea for peace: 'Let those who have weapons lay them down. Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace'.