Trump's attacks on Pope Leo prompt rebuke from Rome

AI Briefing

• – Trump's latest attack on Pope Leo XIV prompts rebuke from the Holy See and Italian government figures, who condemn the US president's claim that the pope is putting Catholics in danger by accepting Iran's nuclear capabilities.
• – The Vatican's Pope Leo XIV responds with measured firmness, stating that the Church has spoken out against nuclear weapons and that his role is to preach peace regardless of public opinion.
• – Italian government leaders, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, pledge support for the pope and distance themselves from Trump's comments, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeks to defuse the tension by emphasizing the shared goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.