Pope Leo XIV has spent his first year as pontiff emphasizing a pastoral mission, portraying himself primarily as a shepherd walking alongside his flock.
Yet repeated criticisms from President Donald Trump, paired with increasingly pointed responses from Leo, have complicated that message and cast a shadow over the first anniversary of his election.
On the eve of the milestone, Leo met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican in what was widely seen as a diplomatic effort to ease tensions. Trump’s persistent attacks on the first U.S.-born pope have fueled an unusual public exchange, particularly over the Iran conflict and broader questions of war and peace, straining ties between Washington and the Holy See.
-This combination file photos show President Donald Trump (L) listening during a meeting with North Korean defectors where he talked with reporters about allowing the release of a secret memo on the F.B.I.'s role in the Russia inquiry, in the Oval Office of the White House, on Feb. 2, 2018, in Washington, Pope Leo XIV arriving for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photos)
By the end of the visit, both sides moved to reaffirm the strength of U.S.-Vatican relations. Still, the episode highlighted how global politics have pulled Leo into a more visible and confrontational role than he appears to prefer. After Trump recently misrepresented his remarks, Leo responded: “If someone wants to criticize me for announcing the Gospel, let him do it with the truth.”
