Archbishop of Philadelphia Backs Pope Leo XIV After Trump Criticism

Pérez praises pontiff's message of peace and diplomacy amid tensions with Trump administration.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 10:38pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic interior of a church, with soft, warm light filtering through stained glass windows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and spiritual refuge.The Archbishop's statement of support for the Pope's message of peace and dignity reflects the Church's enduring role as a moral authority, even in the face of political criticism.Philadelphia Today

Archbishop of Philadelphia Nelson J. Pérez has issued a statement in support of Pope Leo XIV, after President Trump lashed out at the pontiff on social media. Pérez praised Leo's calls for peace and diplomacy, stating that the pope's message 'powerfully reflects the truth of the Gospel' and deserves 'respect and admiration'.

Why it matters

The public disagreement between the President and the Pope highlights the ongoing tensions between political and religious leaders, particularly around issues of foreign policy, immigration, and the role of faith in public life. Pérez's statement underscores the importance of the Catholic Church's voice in these debates and its support for the Pope's moral leadership.

The details

In a lengthy social media post, President Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV as 'WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.' Leo, the first American-born Pope, has been outspoken in his calls for peace in the Middle East and his criticism of the Trump administration's immigration policies. While Leo declined to directly address Trump's comments, he stated that 'To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here is, I think, not understanding what the message of the Gospel is.'

  • On April 12, 2026, President Trump posted his critical comments about Pope Leo XIV on social media.
  • On April 13, 2026, Archbishop Pérez issued a statement in support of Pope Leo XIV.

The players

Pope Leo XIV

The first American-born Pope, who has been outspoken in his calls for peace in the Middle East and his criticism of the Trump administration's immigration policies.

President Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who criticized Pope Leo XIV on social media, calling him 'WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.'

Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez

The Archbishop of Philadelphia who issued a statement in support of Pope Leo XIV, praising the pontiff's message of peace and diplomacy.

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What they’re saying

“As a pastoral and world leader, Pope Leo XIV is a gift for Catholics and all people of good will. His message powerfully reflects the truth of the Gospel.”

— Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez, Archbishop of Philadelphia

“To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here is, I think, not understanding what the message of the Gospel is.”

— Pope Leo XIV

What’s next

The White House has not indicated whether President Trump plans to address Pope Leo XIV's comments directly. The Vatican has also not announced any further response to the President's criticism.

The takeaway

This public disagreement between the President and the Pope highlights the ongoing tensions between political and religious leaders, particularly around issues of foreign policy, immigration, and the role of faith in public life. Archbishop Pérez's statement underscores the importance of the Catholic Church's voice in these debates and its support for the Pope's moral leadership.