A growing rift between Donald Trump and the Vatican is eroding the president's support among conservative Catholic allies, according to a report by BBC News.
While Trump’s immigration policies have long drawn criticism from church leadership, a new wave of backlash has emerged following the president's recent social media attacks on Pope Leo. The friction intensified after Trump shared an AI-generated image of himself appearing as a Christ-like figure and labeled the Pope as too liberal and "weak on crime."
This tension is being compounded by deep disagreements regarding the ongoing war in Iran. High-profile religious figures who previously supported the administration are now distancing themselves from the White House over the humanitarian cost of the conflict.
A shift in religious loyalty
Bishop Joseph Strickland, a prominent conservative figure who once participated in a prayer event to consecrate Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, has made a rare break from the administration. Strickland, who previously held a close political alignment with Trump, now stands with the Vatican regarding the Middle East conflict.
"I do not believe this conflict meets the criteria of a just war. I stand with the Holy Father and his call for peace," Strickland told the BBC. He added that the scale of civilian suffering prevents the war from being viewed as morally just.
Strickland also criticized the use of faith to justify military action, stating, "It becomes very dark when religion is used to justify immoral behaviour... using religion to justify especially dropping bombs is contradicting what the faith is about."
The Bishop also addressed Trump's recent comments regarding the Pope and the controversial AI image. He noted it was his duty to remind the president of the Gospel of Matthew, emphasizing that supreme power resides with Christ rather than any political leader.
Data from the Pew Research Center highlights the political stakes of this religious shift. While 62% of White Catholics voted for Trump in the 2024 election, the electorate remains deeply polarized along party and racial lines.
Greg Smith, a senior associate director at Pew Research Center, noted that for many American Catholics, politics often outweighs faith. However, the current alignment on the Iran war represents a rare moment of unity between the Catholic left and right.
While the late Pope Francis often alienated traditionalists, Pope Leo has enjoyed broader support across the spectrum. This includes support from figures like Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, who noted that even prominent voices on the Catholic right are capable of criticizing the papacy.
