Donald Trump launches extraordinary attack on the POPE - President labels Pontiff 'weak and terrible'

He accused the Chicago-born Catholic leader of thinking "it's OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon".

He also alleged the Catholic Church chose an American to lead the Vatican as they "thought it was 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," he said.

Concluding his message, Mr Trump said: "Leo should get his act together as Pope, use common sense, stop catering to the radical left, and focus on being a great Pope, not a politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!"

He later shared an AI-generated image appearing to compare himself to Jesus Christ.

The President's comments follow a reportedly contentious meeting between the Holy See's former ambassador to the US Cardinal Christophe Pierre and the Pentagon.

Cardinal Pierre served as ambassador until March, when he was replaced by Cardinal Gabriele Giordano Caccia, who previously served as the permanent observer of the Holy See to the UN.

On April 6, the Free Press described the January 22 meeting as a "bitter lecture warning that the United States has the military power to do whatever it wants - and that the Church had better take its side".

However, the Vatican claimed the "narrative" of the meeting was "completely untrue".

It claimed the meeting was "was part of the Papal Representative’s regular mission and provided the opportunity for an exchange of views on matters of mutual interest".

And Mr Burch said: "It’s regrettable that some journalists and online agitators chose to exploit a routine meeting to sow division between the Holy See and the United States."

Mr Trump, on his return from UFC 327 in Miami, told the press "we don't like the Pope" when asked why he released his Truth Social statement.

He said: "I don't think he's doing a very good job. He likes crime, I guess."

He added: "We don't like a Pope, that's going to say that it's okay to have a nuclear weapon.

"We don't want a Pope that says 'crime is okay in our cities'. I don't like it. I'm not a big fan of Pope Leo.

"He's a very liberal person, and he's a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime."

On Saturday, Pope Leo condemned wars during the evening prayer at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

Addressing world leaders who participate in war, he said: "To them we cry out: stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation – not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided."

"Enough with the idolatry of self and money! Enough with the display of force! Enough with war! True strength is manifested in serving life," the Pope added during his speech, which he delivered in Italian.

While the Pontiff did not directly name Mr Trump or the Iran war, it was seen as the most direct rebuke of the President's actions in the Middle East yet.

He had previously said the President's threat to destroy Iran's "whole civilisation" was "truly unacceptable".

Pope Leo also previously said on social media: "Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs."

The President has increasingly framed the war through religious terms, with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth comparing the recovery of a downed US airman to the Easter miracle.

He has also used the book of Psalms to justify "overwhelming violence" against enemies, referencing a direct quote from Psalm 18 verses 37 - 42.

The majority of Catholic voters supported the President during the 2024 election, with 55 per cent of voters to Kamala Harris' 43 per cent.