Honouring his fearless stand: Iran backs Pope Leo after Trump criticism

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on Tuesday praised Pope Leo XIV for his strong comments against war and violence, describing the pontiff’s message as a moral stand against the killing of civilians.

Qalibaf highlighted the Pope’s slogan, “I have no fear,” calling it an inspiration for those opposing alleged war crimes attributed to Israel and the United States.

In a post on X, Qalibaf wrote, “Honouring Pope Leo's fearless stand! I have no fear echoes as he condemns the war crimes of Israel and the US. This slogan lights the path for all who refuse to stay silent on the killing of innocents. @Pontifex leadership inspires millions - thank you for this light!”

The remarks followed recent comments by Pope Leo, who reaffirmed his commitment to peace and said he did not intend to enter into political disputes with the United States.

Speaking to reporters during a flight to Algeria, the Pope stressed that he is “not a politician” and has no desire to engage in a debate with US President Donald Trump.

"I speak about the Gospel; I am not a politician. I do not think the message of the Gospel should be abused in the way some people are doing," he said.

The Pope also pledged to continue speaking out against war and to promote multilateral efforts for peace, noting that his mission is to build bridges and encourage reconciliation among nations.

"I will continue to speak out loudly against war, to try to promote peace and multilateral dialogue between states in order to seek the right solution to problems,” he added.

Reaffirming the Church’s position, he said the Church’s message is rooted in the Gospel, quoting, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

He added that he does not consider himself a politician and does not wish to engage in a debate, stressing that “too many people are suffering in the world.”

The Pope’s response came hours after Donald Trump criticised him in a post on social media. On Truth Social, Trump said, “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.”

He further claimed, “Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”

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