EPISTLES

In the current climate of heated political and ecclesial discourse, I feel I should share my personal stance as a lay Catholic and non–U.S. citizen regarding both Pope Leo XIV and President Donald Trump.

President Donald Trump issued strong criticisms of Pope Leo XIV, describing him as weak on crime and ineffective in matters of foreign policy. He argued that the Pope has taken a critical stance toward the Trump administration, while not giving enough attention to concerns raised during the COVID-19 period, when religious gatherings were heavily restricted and church leaders faced penalties for holding public worship.

He also expressed disagreement with the Pope’s positions on major international and political issues, including nuclear threats, military actions involving countries such as Iran and Venezuela, and broader questions of global security and immigration. Trump suggested that the Pope’s public comments reflect a political bias aligned with liberal viewpoints, and he implied that this focus on political themes risks overshadowing the Pope’s spiritual mission.

In his remarks, Trump further questioned the Pope’s leadership priorities, urging him to concentrate more on his role as a spiritual shepherd of the Catholic Church rather than engaging in political critique.

Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy. He talks about “fear” of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart. I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA. He gets it, and Leo doesn’t! I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country. And I don’t 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, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History. Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. 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. Unfortunately, Leo’s 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. Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church! DONALD J. TRUMP

Source: Truth Social

Pope Leo XIV then responded to this criticism and made it clear that he is not afraid of Trump, saying he will continue speaking out—especially on issues of war and peace.

I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for.

Source: Associated Press

As a Catholic, I must defend Pope Leo XIV because he holds the Petrine office, divinely established by our Lord Jesus Christ. However, I do not defend his liberal, left-leaning political positions. I stand with him only because he is the Vicar of Christ, not because I necessarily agree with his statements as head of the Vatican City State. When he, as a spiritual leader, presents his political views as aligned with the Gospel, I remain unconvinced because of trends often associated with liberal or Democratic positions, which promote an anti-faith, anti-life, anti-family agenda. At times, it can appear that these political leanings are more visible than a clear focus on the salvation of souls.

As a Catholic, I also defend Donald Trump for supporting parts of the pro-life cause and for actions that have benefited people in difficult situations, including efforts related to Ukraine, Venezuela, and Iran. At the same time, I must also condemn words and actions that go beyond proper moral bounds. His attacks on the Pope, who holds the inseparable roles of head of state and visible head of the Mystical Body of Christ, go beyond what is reasonable and are offensive to me as a member of the Catholic Church.

To stand uncritically with either figure is to fall into blind fanaticism. Fanaticism is the refusal to see fault in the person one supports, even when those faults are real and evident.

To stand uncritically with the Pope is to risk becoming a blind Catholic—one who confuses loyalty with unquestioning agreement. To stand uncritically with Trump is to risk becoming a poor Catholic—one who allows political loyalty to override faith, charity, and reverence for the Church.

A mature and balanced Catholic stance requires respect for the Papal Office without political idolatry, and political discernment without abandoning moral truth or ecclesial reverence.

In the end, one thing all Catholics—both modernists and traditionalists—can agree on is the need to pray for both of these erring, fallible persons. I always do this, and I will continue to do so. I also invite others to do the same.

Recommended Book: Catholic Republic: Why America Will Perish Without Rome (2019) by Timothy Gordon at https://amzn.to/4t4BleX. Listen to this book through Amazon Audible. Sign up here now!