麻豆社

Pope Leo XIV has said he has 鈥渘o fear of the Trump administration鈥�, after his criticism of the Iran war drew scorn from President Donald Trump.

On Sunday, the US President called the Pope 鈥渨eak on crime and terrible on foreign policy鈥�, and posted a now-deleted AI image of himself depicted as a Christ-like figure.The posts caused outrage among Catholics and the religious right, but he has said he will not apologise to the Pope.

We speak to 麻豆社 presenter and author Edward Stourton, who has reported on religious affairs and US politics for decades, about what happens when an American president takes on an American Pope.

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Photo: Pope Leo XIV addresses journalists during the flight heading to Algiers on April 13, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Alberto Pizzoli.