The President and the Pope
The disagreement between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV is not about strategy, but about fundamentally different philosophies. The Pope urges everyone to stop violence and pursue peace, labeling warmongers as harmful. Meanwhile, President Trump insists that it is his responsibility to protect the Nation, even if it means taking aggressive measures. He objects to the Pope's interference and criticism, especially regarding U.S. policies toward Iran and Venezuela.
The Pope is deeply committed to promoting peace. His role centers on encouraging dialogue, opposing war, and fostering multilateral relationships among states to find just solutions to global problems. He consistently speaks out against violence and urges world leaders to prioritize peaceful resolutions. The Pope's messaging emphasizes that too many innocent people are suffering due to ongoing conflicts, and he believes that warmongering is fundamentally wrong.
In contrast, President Trump adopts a confrontational approach, focusing on protecting the American people and addressing threats with decisive action. He believes that some problems require direct intervention, even if it involves violence. For example, Trump expresses concern about the potential global destruction should Iran acquire nuclear weapons. He also justifies actions against Venezuela, citing the country's involvement in drug trafficking and the release of criminals into the United States. President Trump rejects criticism from the Pope, asserting that his obligations are to the American people and that he is fulfilling the duties for which he was elected.
On April 9 Pope Leo had a private audience with David Axelrod, a very close Obama advisor. He’s Jewish, it was his first meeting ever with a Pope. Some background on him. Working as a political operative, Axelrod has spent most of his adult life constructing political storylines for the American left to use against conservatives or the Republican party. He made his bones in the rough and tumble world of Chicago politics as a Democratic strategist, after leaving his job as a political reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
By happenstance, the next day the Pope started commenting about the Trump Administration’s conduct of the Iranian conflict. On April 12 three of the most liberal American Cardinals were interviewed by Norah O’Donnell on CBS’s 60 Minutes, speaking against the Iran conflict and immigration enforcement. A coincidence or a grassy knoll-like conspiracy?
Then again, since the Pope and Axelrod are both from Chicago, perhaps they just discussed the White Sox prospects for the new season and the Bears proposed move to a new stadium in northern Indiana. Right? And yet the Pope still hasn’t condemned the Iranian government for murdering up to 40,000 of its own citizens during the January uprising. Not a word about the 18-year-old girl the Iranians are about to execute for protesting.
With respect to the Pope, a critical question arises: what obligation does the leader of the Catholic Church have to actively condemn and work to prevent the killing of innocent people? While the Pope calls for peace and condemns violence, it is important to consider the responsibilities of global religious leaders in addressing the root causes of suffering and violence. For example, the stated goal of the Mullahs is to wipe the United Sates and Israel off the face of the Earth. Crickets from His Holiness.
Now the latest shift in reportage, where comparisons of Trump by pundits in the legacy media have moved from referencing him as Hitler to now referring to him as the Antichrist. This evolution in rhetoric highlights the intensity of current political debates. Regardless of whether former President Trump acts in ways that are perceived as positive or negative, objections from those on the political left remain strong and often polarized.
Despite positive indicators that the Iranians are about to cave, major media outlets have chosen to focus on controversies such as Trump disagreeing with the Pope. This issue is elevated as a headline, likely due to its potential to drive support away and affect the midterm elections. The public is now faced with a choice between supporting Trump or the Pope, and even among Catholics, opinions are divided.
If the world operated with complete rationality, every nation would support action against Iran. However, this is not the case. Polling shows that 60 percent of Americans do not back such measures, and numerous countries around the globe share this reluctance. This is due largely to the negative propaganda in the media. As a result, the leaders in Tehran gain a significant advantage, since many people are indifferent to their actions.
The International Atomic Energy Agency maintains that Iran is aggressively enriching uranium, a claim supported by both American and Israeli intelligence. There are valid reasons for doubt. Memories of Saddam Hussein’s deception regarding weapons of mass destruction come to mind. Those reasons don’t hold up under close scrutiny.
Nevertheless, refusing to believe the worst about Iran’s leaders, especially in the face of compelling evidence, is both unwise and irresponsible. Their harmful actions have been repeatedly documented. For people who object and do not closely follow current events, their opposition to action against Iran stems from concerns such as increased costs for gas and food. The press contributes by continuing to promote a general dislike for President Trump. These ongoing disruptions create fatigue, and there is a yearning for normalcy over confusing geopolitical developments.
Thousands of innocent Iranians have already lost their lives at the hands of Islamic despots. Unless new evidence emerges to counter the intelligence reports, which seems highly unlikely, it seems necessary to support Operation Epic Fury, as it is the responsible course of action. The Pope’s failure to denounce the murderous Iranian regime is wrong.
The hope remains that Pope Leo embraces this perspective and supports responsible intervention, just like David did when he fought Goliath and the Philistines.