Fr Paddy Byrne: Pope errs on side of compassion while Trump blusters

POPE Leo X1V has almost reached the first year of his papacy. I suggest this has been a remarkable year, in his witness for Jesus Christ and in his gentle yet fearless concern for the people of God throughout the world. Leo is very much his own man, fuelled with a deep spirituality and keen intellect. Climate change, immigrants, war and inequality are major themes he has addressed with sincerity and deep faith. There's something about Leo I find deeply inspirational. Here in the West, there is a gentle but significant renewal of faith. In the parched lands of secularism, wellsprings of new Christian movements are emerging as green shoots. Leo, like his predecessors, errs on the side of compassion, tolerance and inclusion. He is universally seen as one of the most significant world leaders. Being the first American pope, he is a wonderful ambassador for his own native country in a time when many question the moral leadership of its current president.

Pope Leo’s ministry is fuelled with deep discernment and prayer. Two qualities stand out: calmness and confidence. The calmness seems to come from his overwhelming belief that most problems are less intractable the more people can really listen to one another (it’s a conviction that dove-tails nicely with the importance of listening to others, which is at the very core of the synodal approach as the best and only way being Church developed by pope Francis). Before debate or discussion or discerning solutions, he suggests, we need to listen, really listen by giving others our full and undivided attention.

From the very beginning, pope Leo has named peace as a fundamental priority for his ministry. When cardinal Prevost emerged as Pope Leo XIV on the balcony of St Peter’s and spoke in English, Italian and Spanish, first, slightly faltering words as if the emotion of the occasion was in danger of overwhelming him, then extraordinarily confident words to the massed thousands in St Peter’s Square and to the billions around the world. His first words to the crowd gathered in St Peter’s Square were words of peace directed to all the world:

 “Peace be with you all. Beloved brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who has given his life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, reach your families, to all people, wherever they may be, to all peoples, to all the earth. Peace be with you.” 

President Trump has, oddly, accused pope Leo XIV of being ‘political,’ as if the Vicar of Christ were a mayor or a governor. Here's someone else who would probably be criticised for being too lenient with criminals, even promising one a place a heaven: “One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying: “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” But the other rebuked him, saying: “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we, indeed, have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23).

Pope Leo XIV has been vocal in recent weeks about the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, calling for peace, an ‘off-ramp’ to end the war, and criticising certain rhetoric (including Trump’s past comments suggesting a “whole civilisation will die” if Iran didn’t comply). He has also previously questioned aspects of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. President Trump posted a lengthy critique on Truth Social, calling pope Leo “WEAK on Crime, “terrible for foreign policy” … “a very liberal person” who should “stop catering to the radical left”… Not “doing a very good job” as pope. Trump shared publicly that he is “not a big fan” of the pontiff and suggested pope Leo should “get his act together.” Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria (starting a ten-day trip to Africa), Pope Leo XIV pushed back calmly but firmly. “I have no fear of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for.” He emphasised that the Church is not political and focuses on peace-making (“Blessed are the peacemakers”), bridge-building, reconciliation and avoiding war where possible. The pope said he had no intention of entering a direct debate with Trump but would continue advocating for peace rooted in the Gospel. The tone from the Vatican side has been measured, framing the comments as a defence of core Christian teachings rather than a personal or political attack.

The exchange has drawn widespread media coverage, with some commentators noting it risks alienating Catholic conservatives or highlighting tensions over foreign policy (Iran), immigration and the role of religion in public life. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni (a Trump ally and Catholic) reportedly called Trump’s remarks “unacceptable.” Trump refused to apologise, reiterating that the pope had said things that were “wrong” and defending US actions regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions. This is an unusual high-profile clash between a sitting US president and the pope, amplified by the fact that Leo is American born. It stems primarily from differing views on the Iran conflict and broader issues like immigration, with both sides framing their positions in strong terms ‒ Trump on strength and policy results, Leo on Gospel values of peace.

We live in a turbulent world where war and conflict are everyday events. I pray that we all will be instruments of peace. That world leaders will govern in a spirit of justice building right relationships and protecting the most vulnerable. May the Lord continue to bless pope Leo with courage and conviction.