Catholic groups slam Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo, a ‘shepherd’ of souls, not a politician

(OSV News) — A number of Catholic organizations are speaking out in defense of Pope Leo XIV, as President Donald Trump doubled down on his harsh criticism of Pope Leo XIV — with Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, also claiming the pope should “be careful when he talks about matters of theology” in criticizing the U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran.

“In recent days, many Catholics and other people of goodwill have been deeply disappointed by the disparaging comments directed at Pope Leo XIV by the President of the United States,” said Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly of the Knights of Columbus.

In an April 15 statement, Kelly said that “the Successor of Saint Peter is not a politician — he is the Vicar of Christ, entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel and shepherding souls.”

He noted that the pope “has consistently called for peace, dialogue, and restraint in a world marked by war and suffering.

“The Holy Father’s words are not political talking points — they are reflections of the Gospel itself,” said Kelly. “Whether one agrees or disagrees with particular policy judgments, the Holy Father’s prophetic voice deserves to be heard with respect and engaged seriously.”

The Ancient Order of Hibernians — the nation’s oldest and largest Irish Catholic lay organization — said in a strongly worded April 14 statement, “No Catholic should be asked to accept language that treats the Holy Father as though he were a partisan figure whose duty is to please the political expediency of the moment, or defer to a secular ruler.

“To Catholics, the Pope is the successor of Saint Peter; he does not hold his office at the pleasure of any leader of this world,” said the AOH, adding that Trump’s remarks “went well beyond reasonable disagreement.”

“To call the Holy Father ‘weak,’ to suggest that his election was engineered as a political response to an American president, and to speak of the papacy as though it should be aligned with a secular agenda is an insult not only to Pope Leo, but to the dignity and independence of the Catholic Church,” the AOH said.

The group added that Trump had “amplified the offense of his remarks” by posting a now-deleted, AI-generated image of himself “in unmistakably quasi-religious terms, as a radiant healer laying hands on the afflicted, in the style of classical depictions of Christ.”

“When a president mocks the Vicar of Christ and then cloaks himself in Christ’s image, he has left the realm of politics entirely,” said the AOH. “He has committed an act of desecration against a faith held sacred by over a billion souls.”

“Americans do not worship presidents,” said the AOH, which called on Trump to “withdraw these remarks, offer a sincere and unambiguous apology, and show the respect due to the papacy and to Catholics throughout the world.”

“The Chair of Peter is not an instrument of politics, and no president of the United States should ever mistake it for one,” the AOH said.

In an April 14 statement, the Baltimore-based Josephites order — whose priests and brothers are dedicated to serving African American communities — offered “prayerful support and deep respect” to Pope Leo.

“In a world often marked by division and competing ideologies, we are reminded that our first allegiance is not to political frameworks, but to the person of Jesus Christ, whose truth transcends every human system,” said the order.

In its April 13 statement, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious expressed “strong support for Pope Leo as he continues to speak with clarity and conviction as a moral voice in our world.”

“At a time when such witness is often met with resistance or opposition, we are deeply inspired by his courage in proclaiming the dignity of every human life and the enduring values of the Gospel,” said the LCWR.

The conference added that “Pope Leo’s willingness to speak publicly, even when it is difficult, reflects a steadfast commitment to truth and to the care of those who are most vulnerable.”

The LCWR statement also noted the group’s March 26 private audience with the pope at the Vatican, saying the encounter “deepened our appreciation for his pastoral leadership and strengthens our resolve to stand in solidarity with his efforts.”

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