• Trump criticizes Pope Leo XIV for his remarks on Iran and immigration, adding political tension ahead of Rubio's visit.
• Pope Leo defends his stance on peace and nuclear disarmament, asserting his comments align with church teachings.
• Marco Rubio seeks to downplay Trump's remarks, emphasizing the importance of dialogue with the Vatican.
• Trump's criticisms perhaps signal growing disapproval among American Catholics, impacting upcoming elections.

US President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, stating, "he's endangering a lot of Catholics," in relation to the pontiff's views on Iran and immigration policies. Trump's comments come just before Secretary of State Marco Rubio's trip to the Vatican, where Rubio aims to strengthen bilateral relations and address mutual concerns regarding the US-Iran conflict. Trump has suggested the pope's peace advocacy makes the world "less safe," further complicating Rubio's mission, according to SCMP and India Times.

Pope Leo has responded to Trump's accusations, stating the Church's mission is to "preach the Gospel" and advocate for peace. He asserted that his comments on peace talks do not imply support for nuclear weapons, reiterating that the Church has opposed nuclear arms for years. "If someone wants to criticize me for announcing the Gospel, let him do it with the truth," the pope said, according to BBC and Le Monde.

As Rubio prepares for his meetings with both Pope Leo and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, he has downplayed Trump's remarks, suggesting they were mischaracterized and rooted in concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions. Rubio emphasized that the meeting aims to engage in "frank conversation" about policies concerning the Middle East. The US ambassador to the Holy See noted that despite recent tensions, there is no "deep rift" between the two nations, according to Al Jazeera and SCMP.

The ongoing dispute has raised eyebrows among American Catholics, with some polls indicating an increase in disapproval of Trump among this demographic, potentially impacting his political standing ahead of the midterms. Trump's escalating rhetoric regarding NATO allies amidst the Iran conflict may further alienate moderate voters, according to Le Monde and India Times.