Pope Leo's searing criticism of Trump's 'vile' war threats raises eyebrows

President Donald Trump's threats to obliterate Iran with a total bombing campaign drew fierce condemnation from Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday, who proclaimed, “This is truly not acceptable. Here there are certainly questions of international law, but even more than this a question of morality for the good of people,” and that “attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law, but it is also against sign of the hatred and division that we are capable of.”

Not long after this repudiation, Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran that at least delays this threat.

The Pope's commentary drew immediate fury from some MAGA commentators, with right-wing personality Mike Cernovich fuming, "Has the Pope told the Council of Bishops and Catholic Charities [sic] to stop destroying my country via mass migration and welfare fraud? Has he ever stated that immigration fraud is a sin?"

Others, however, lauded the Pope's moral stance.

"This is the American that embodies our best values and ideals. Not the man in the White House," wrote conservative New York Times columnist David French. "I am grateful that the world can see a very different side of the American people through his faithful witness."

"The Holy Father speaks decisively and with a clear and rare sense of outrage at Trump’s vile threat," wrote UnHerd editor Sohrab Amari.

"I feel fully represented by the Holy Father’s words," wrote University College London doctoral researcher Gonzalo Banda. "This is a moral line we must not cross. Threatening to obliterate a nation is abominable."

"Truly remarkable that a guy who few heard of a year ago, and never sought this, has taken on the role of not just the moral voice one ought to expect of the papacy but a national icon to whom Americans turn their lonely eyes," wrote Sacred Heart University Professor of Catholic Studies Daniel Rober.

"In condemning deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure, Pope Leo simply reiterates longstanding Catholic just war teaching, just as Catholics who defend Trump manifestly dissent from it," wrote Pasadena City College philosophy professor Edward Feser. "This is not remotely complicated for Catholics who put their religion ahead of politics."