Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has sharply condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about Pope Francis, calling them an insult to the pontiff and a desecration of Jesus Christ.
Speaking on Sunday, Trump said he is “not a big fan” of the 87-year-old pope, describing him as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.” The comments came after the pontiff criticized ongoing conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Trump also accused the pope of unfairly targeting his administration while ignoring restrictions on religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“He’s a very liberal person, and he’s a man that doesn’t believe in stopping crime,” Trump said. He added, “I don’t want a pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” and claimed, “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
The remarks have drawn international backlash.
In a post on X on Monday, Pezeshkian responded directly to the Vatican. “Your Holiness Pope Francis, I condemn this insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran,” he wrote. “The desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is unacceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah.”
The exchange follows heightened regional tensions. In February, under Trump’s direction and in coordination with Israel, the U.S. launched missile strikes on Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury. Iran retaliated with strikes against several Gulf nations.
A reconciliation meeting hosted over the weekend in Islamabad, Pakistan, ended without agreement.
