During his first official press conference as the newly elected leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV appeared to make a subtle jab at former U.S. President Donald Trump—who had recently implied he played a role in the Pope’s election.
Pope Leo XIV’s appointment marks a historic milestone, as he is the first American to ever be elected to the papacy. However, Trump, despite having no formal involvement in the papal conclave, seemed to credit himself for the result.
On May 12, Trump took to Truth Social to claim that his popularity among Catholic voters somehow contributed to Pope Leo’s rise to the role. In the same post, he lashed out at ABC journalist Martha Raddatz, accusing her of downplaying his influence.
“It was amusing to see old timer Martha Raditz on ABC Fake News this morning, adamantly saying that Pope Leo’s election had absolutely nothing to do with me,” Trump wrote. “It’s all in her Trump-Deranged Mind. Remember, I WON the Catholic vote—by a landslide!”
He concluded with a swipe at Disney CEO Bob Iger, calling for a shake-up in network programming: “Time for a change. MAGA!!!”
Later that same day, Pope Leo addressed members of the media at the Vatican in Italian, where many observers noted a stark contrast in tone—one that some interpreted as a veiled critique of Trump’s rhetoric.
Without naming names, the Pope emphasized the need for respectful and empathetic communication, stating:
“We must reject a culture of verbal aggression and polarization. The language we use should foster peace, not division.”
He continued:
“Let us remove prejudice, resentment, and hatred from our speech. What we need is not louder voices, but ones that truly listen—especially to those who have no voice.”
He also honored the courage of journalists working in conflict zones and praised their dedication to informing the public—highlighting that access to truth is fundamental for individual freedom.
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Social media quickly lit up with reactions, with many suggesting the Pope’s comments were a thinly veiled “shade” at Trump. One user tagged both the White House and Trump directly, adding: “Cc: @WhiteHouse @realDonaldTrump.”
When asked by a U.S. reporter if he had any message specifically for the United States, Pope Leo responded with a brief but pointed line:
“Many. God bless you all.”