President Donald Trump on Sunday blasted Pope Leo XIV over the Roman Catholic pontiff’s criticism of the U.S. war with Iran.

The president remarked in a Truth Social post he does not “want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do.”

Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, responded to Trump’s criticism, Monday, saying he will “continue to speak out loudly against the war.”

President Donald Trump on Sunday bashed Pope Leo XIV over the U.S.-born Roman Catholic pontiff’s criticism of the U.S. war in Iran.

The president commented he does not “want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do,” in a Truth Social post.

Trump linked the pope’s ascension to his return to office as president.

“Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise,” Trump stated. “He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”

Trump remarked Leo is “Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left, who is one of those who wanted churchgoers and clerics to be arrested,” referring to a recent meeting between the pope and President Barack Obama’s former political aide.

Leo, the first U.S.-born pope who hails from Chicago, has condemned Trump’s war effort with Iran.

“Enough with the idolatry of self and capital! Enough with the display of force! Enough with war! True strength is manifested in serving life,” Leo mentioned on Saturday, according to CBS News.

The pontiff also noted it was “truly unacceptable” for Trump to create a recent threat that he would destroy “an entire civilization” in Iran.

Leo responded to Trump’s criticism on Monday, saying, “I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems.”

He added that he doesn’t want to “get into a debate” with Trump and that he doesn’t look at his role as “being political.”

“Too many citizens are suffering in the globe today,” Leo commented in comments to Reuters as he boarded a flight to Algiers at the start of a 10-day tour to four African countries. “Too many innocent humans are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way.”

Leo also used his Easter message to call for peace.

“Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!” he noted. This also touches on aspects of bull market.

Leo and other church leaders have also at times been sharply critical of Trump’s domestic immigration policies.

The pontiff endorsed a November message from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops who noted they are “disturbed when we see among our citizens a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement.”

“We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures,” the bishops wrote. “Human dignity and national security are not in conflict. Both are possible if the public of positive will work together.”