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Italy's Meloni backs Pope Leo in clash with Trump

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 14, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: April 14, 2026

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Italy's Meloni backs Pope Leo in clash with Trump
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ROME, April 14 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered support to Pope Leo on Tuesday, after the pontiff was sharply criticised by U.S. President Donald Trump. "I express my

Meloni Expresses Support for Pope Leo After Criticism from Trump

Italian Prime Minister Responds to U.S. President's Remarks

Background of the Incident

ROME, April 14 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered support to Pope Leo on Tuesday, after the pontiff was sharply criticised by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Meloni's Statement

"I express my solidarity with Pope Leo, frankly I would not feel very comfortable in a society where religious leaders do what political leaders say," Meloni said.

Context of the Comments

The Italian leader, who is seen as close to Trump, was speaking to reporters in Verona, on the sidelines of a conference on the wine industry.

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Angelo Amante, writing by Alvise Armellini, editing by Gianluca Semeraro)

Key Takeaways

  • Meloni, though seen as close to Trump, called the president’s remarks about the pope “unacceptable” and emphasized the importance of religious leaders’ autonomy (malaysia.news.yahoo.com).
  • Trump recently attacked Pope Leo XIV as “weak on crime,” “terrible for foreign policy,” and “too liberal,” even posting a now-deleted AI-like image of himself as Jesus, igniting widespread backlash (en.wikipedia.org).
  • Pope Leo XIV responded confidently, saying he is unafraid of the Trump administration and will continue to deliver the Gospel’s message and call for peace amid the Iran war controversy (apnews.com)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Giorgia Meloni support Pope Leo?
Giorgia Meloni expressed solidarity with Pope Leo after he was criticised by U.S. President Donald Trump, highlighting her discomfort with religious leaders following political leaders' directives.
What did Trump say about Pope Leo?
The article states Trump sharply criticised Pope Leo, but does not provide specific details of his comments.
Where did Meloni make her statement?
Meloni made her comments in Verona, Italy, on the sidelines of a conference on the wine industry.
Is Meloni considered an ally of Trump?
The article notes that Giorgia Meloni is seen as close to Trump.
What was the main topic of the conference Meloni attended?
Meloni was speaking to reporters while attending a conference on the wine industry.

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