Pope Leo criticized the massive budget spent on the arms industry and emphasized that negotiation is a more appropriate path. At the same time, he responded to Donald Trump's statements as distorted, noting that he has never expressed support for Iran possessing weapons.
On 6 May 2026 GMT+7, international news agencies reported that Pope Leo, head of the Roman Catholic Church, expressed critical views on the enormous budget allocated to the arms industry and underscored that negotiation is a better approach.
Pope Leo's remarks came amid tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently criticized him again. Previously, Trump had stated in an interview that the first American-born pope, Pope Leo, believes it is normal for Iran to have nuclear weapons.
However, the pope has never taken a stance supporting Iran's possession of weapons and countered Trump's statement as a distortion. He also said that the concept of just war in the modern era is highly complex, especially in the nuclear age, requiring a reevaluation of the meaning of war on multiple levels. He pointed out that using dialogue is a much more appropriate approach.
The heated exchange between Trump and the Vatican leader occurred as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was scheduled to visit the Vatican this week and is set to meet the pope on Thursday. Reports indicate that Trump's recent criticism could impact efforts to restore U.S.-Vatican relations. Rubio, who often has to explain or soften Trump's harsh statements on Europe, NATO, and the Middle East, may face a more challenging mission during this visit.
Source: AP