Pope Leo has responded to attacks by US President Donald Trump, saying he hoped to be able to preach the Gospel and about peace, but anyone was free to criticise him.
In his latest remarks about the pontiff, Trump suggested that he believed that it was okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
The Pope has said no such thing, but he has opposed the US and Israel's war on Iran. His stance has angered Trump, prompting the US president to lash out repeatedly.
The latest exchange comes as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads to the Vatican for a two-day visit.
The State Department said Rubio would work to "advance bilateral relations" with Italy and the Vatican and discussion "the situation in the Middle East and mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere", including during meetings with other Italian counterparts.
