Denver Archbishop Condemns Trump's Attacks on Pope Leo XIV

The Archdiocese of Denver rebuked the president's criticism of the pontiff.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 10:38pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic interior of a Catholic church with a single pew in the foreground, the space bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the tensions between political and religious leadership.The strained relationship between the U.S. government and the Catholic Church is exposed as a local archbishop condemns the president's criticism of the pope.Denver Today

The Archdiocese of Denver issued a statement condemning President Donald Trump's recent remarks attacking Pope Leo XIV, saying the president's comments were unacceptable and that the archbishop joined other bishops in denouncing the attacks.

Why it matters

The relationship between the U.S. president and the Catholic Church has been strained in recent years, and this latest clash highlights the ongoing political tensions between the White House and the Vatican under Pope Leo XIV's leadership.

The details

In the statement, the Archdiocese of Denver said it "joins my brother bishops in stating clearly that the recent remarks directed at Pope Leo by President Trump are not acceptable." The archbishop did not provide specifics on Trump's criticisms of the pope, but the president has previously been vocal in his disagreements with the pontiff's positions on issues like immigration and climate change.

  • The Archdiocese of Denver released the statement on Monday, April 13, 2026.

The players

Archdiocese of Denver

The Catholic diocese that oversees the Denver metropolitan area and surrounding region.

President Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who has frequently clashed with Pope Leo XIV over political and social issues.

Pope Leo XIV

The current leader of the Catholic Church, who has taken progressive stances on topics like immigration and climate change that have put him at odds with some U.S. political figures.

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What they’re saying

“I join my brother bishops in stating clearly that the recent remarks directed at Pope Leo by President Trump are not acceptable.”

— Archdiocese of Denver, Statement

The takeaway

This clash between the U.S. president and the Catholic Church leadership underscores the ongoing political and ideological divisions that have defined the relationship between the White House and the Vatican in recent years under Pope Leo XIV's papacy.