ToplinePope Leo XIV on Monday said he does not fear the Trump administration and will continue to speak out against the war in Iran, after President Donald Trump attacked him in a long social media post on Sunday night, claiming he was soft on crime and terrible at foreign policy—escalating a growing feud between the White House and the Vatican.Pope Leo XIV gestures during a visit at the Maqam Echahid Martyrs' Monument in El Madania, near Algiers.POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesKey FactsIn his post, Trump described Leo as “WEAK on Crime,” and “terrible for Foreign Policy,” and said he liked the Pope’s brother Louis better than him because he is “all MAGA.”Trump said he doesn’t want a Pope who is okay with Iran having a nuclear weapon, opposes U.S. military action in Venezuela and criticizes the President of the United States.The president then said Leo should be “thankful” and claimed, if he weren’t in the White House, “Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”Without any evidence, the president suggested the Chicago-native was elected to the papacy because he was an American and the Vatican thought this would be the “best way to deal with…Trump.”Trump then accused Leo of “catering to the Radical Left,” and trying to be a “politician” instead of a “Great Pope.”How Has The Pope Responded To Trump’s Remarks?While on a flight to Algeria, as part of a multi-nation tour of Africa, the Pope was asked about the president’s attacks and said: “I have no fear of the Trump administration, or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do.” Leo said he does not look at his role as political and added, “I don't want to get into a debate with him [Trump]. I don't think that the message of the gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing… I will continue to speak out loud against war.” Leo also took a jab at the president’s social media platform—where he also posted an image where he appears to be portrayed as Jesus Christ—saying: “It’s ironic, the name of the site itself. Say no more.”Crucial QuoteSpeaking to reporters on the tarmac after flying back from Florida to Washington on Sunday night, Trump attacked the Pope again, saying: “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo.” The president added: “He’s a very liberal person and he’s a man that doesn’t believe in stopping crime. He’s a man that doesn’t think we should be toying with a country that want’s a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world.” TangentIn his post, Trump also attacked the Pope for meeting with David Axelrod, the former advisor to President Barack Obama, saying this didn’t “sit well” with him. Axelrod was part of an “entourage” that met Leo on Thursday morning, a daily bulletin posted by the Vatican showed. It’s unclear what was discussed in the meeting. Both the Pope and the former president are Chicago natives and in a podcast appearance earlier this year Obama said the person he has not met so far but is “looking forward to meeting” is the “new pope who is from Chicago and a White Sox fan.” Obama added he expects the meeting to happen “at some point.”Key BackgroundTrump’s unprecedented public attack against the Pope comes at a time when the leader of the Roman Catholic Church has become one of the most prominent global critics of Trump’s war on Iran. Last month, shortly after the U.S. military operation started, Leo warned that a “spiral of violence” could become “an unbridgeable chasm.” While delivering a sermon on Palm Sunday, the Pope appeared to rebuke the Trump administration’s use of the Bible to justify the conflict, saying: “Jesus is the King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war…He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” Last week, after Trump posted that a “whole civilization will die tonight,” unless Iran agreed to his demands on ending the conflict, and the Pope responded, saying the threat was “truly unacceptable” and added “all attacks on civilian infrastructure is against international law.” Leo addressed the conflict once again during a Vatican prayer service on Saturday saying, “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!” Without naming Trump, the Pope urged leaders of nations to “Stop! It is time for peace.”Further ReadingPentagon Confirms It Met With Vatican—But Denies Reports Of A Bitter Clash—Amid The Pope’s Mounting Criticism (Forbes)‘Enough Of War,’ Pope Leo XIV Says In Latest Condemnation Of U.S.-Iran Conflict (Forbes)