House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared to side with the White House in the escalating dispute with the Vatican on Wednesday, telling reporters at the Capitol that Pope Leo XIV is welcome to share his opinions on politics, but he should “expect some political response” in return.
Johnson said, “I’m not one to criticize clerics and religious leaders. We protect free speech, and we certainly protect the right, the free exercise of religion.” “A Pope or any religious leader can say whatever they want, but obviously, if you get into the political arena, I think you should expect some political reaction, and I think the Pope has received some of that.”
President Donald Trump has attacked Leo in recent days for his criticism of the US-Israel war in Iran. President accuses Catholic Church leader “Terrible for foreign policy” And, in A tuesday social media postcalled for “Someone to please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed protesters in the last two months, and that Iran having a nuclear bomb is absolutely unacceptable.”
The president has said he will not apologize to Leo, and Vice President J.D. Vance, the highest-ranking Catholic elected official in the US, entered the debate Tuesday and warned Leo to “be careful” when discussing theology.
The first American Pope had previously said that he did not want to engage in a debate with Trump. He, along with many other Catholic leaders, has repeatedly condemned the war in Iran and urged leaders to find a peaceful solution.
The first Pope of the Order of St. Augustine, Leo has also highlighted St. Augustine’s teachings of “just war”, a theological framework that examines the propriety of how and why wars are fought. In his Easter address, Leo said that Jesus does not hear the prayers of those who have blood on their hands – Johnson said he was “a little surprised” by this.
Johnson said, “There is a time for every purpose under heaven.” “I think the President’s comments, the Vice President’s comments, at the (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) and the classified briefing reflect his deep understanding that there is a very high risk in the situation that we’re facing.”
Johnson’s defense of Trump comes just a day after the speaker said he had asked the president to remove an AI-generated image Trump posted of himself as Jesus Christ. Trump removed the image, although he told reporters he thought he was being portrayed as a doctor.
“I don’t want to get into a theological debate with the Pope,” Johnson said. “I certainly respect the Pope. I would just say that these are matters that people of good faith and good sense can debate and think about, and I think that’s what is reflected.”
Johnson was not the only Republican to throw his support behind Trump’s criticism of the Pope.
Texas Rep. Troy Nehls told LEO on Wednesday to “stay away from politics”.
“The Pope must lead his flock, lead the Church, and stay away from the political arena,” Nehls told reporters. “Go lead your church. Stay away from politics. We did not elect the Pope as president. Donald Trump is our president.”
