Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a sharp condemnation on Monday against U.S. President Donald Trump, calling his recent remarks regarding Pope Leo XIV "unacceptable."
Meloni, a prominent European ally of the American leader, clarified her position following a period of ambiguity regarding her stance on the controversy.
"I believed the meaning of my statement this morning was clear, but I reiterate it with greater clarity. I consider President Trump's words directed at the Holy Father to be unacceptable," Meloni said in an official statement.
Trump previously attacked the Pope, describing him as "weak on crime" and "terrible in foreign policy." The remarks have drawn widespread condemnation from across the Italian political spectrum, spanning from right-wing to left-wing factions, as well as from the Italian Church.
Defense of the Papacy
Meloni defended the Pope's role as the head of the Catholic Church, asserting his right to address global stability.
"It is just and normal that he invokes peace and condemns any form of war," the Prime Minister stated.
Earlier on Monday, Meloni had released a more subtle message. In that post, she expressed hope that the Pontiff would "foster the resolution of conflicts" during his current diplomatic tour of Africa.
This diplomatic tension coincides with Pope Leo XIV's official visit to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. The trip follows a recent peace vigil where the Pope criticized the "delusion of omnipotence" held by certain world leaders.
No official response from the White House regarding Meloni's specific condemnation has been released yet.
