Trump accuses Pope of Endorsing Iran: Diplomatic Fallout Ahead of Rubio’s Vatican Visit

Trump accuses Pope of Endorsing Iran

In a blunt interview with Hugh Hewitt, former President Donald Trump claimed the pontiff is “comforting” Tehran and jeopardising Catholics worldwide. He asserted the Vatican “talks about it being OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” a charge the pope never made. The Holy Father has repeatedly urged dialogue and condemned any nuclear escalation, a stance echoed in recent Reuters reports.

“The mission of the Church is to preach peace,” Pope Francis said, warning against misrepresentation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is slated to visit the Vatican this Thursday, a trip that now carries extra diplomatic weight. The Catholic leader responded, reminding that the Church has “spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years.” Rubio, a practicing Catholic, emphasized that any Iranian nuclear capability would threaten “millions of Christians,” echoing Trump’s alarm but without the personal jab. The Italian foreign ministry, via Bloomberg, dismissed Trump’s rhetoric as “neither acceptable nor helpful to peace.” As the White House prepares for the meeting, analysts note the episode could complicate U.S. outreach to Europe ahead of the midterm elections. ↓ 1 diplomatic hurdle looms as both leaders navigate a volatile Middle‑East backdrop. — Correction: The Vatican visit was scheduled for Thursday, not Wednesday.