Iran’s parliament speaker backs Pope Leo after Trump criticism

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf praised Pope Leo XIV’s stance against the US-Israeli war on his country, describing his opposition of the conflict “inspires millions” amid rising regional tensions.

“Honoring Pope Leo’s fearless stand! ‘I have no fear’ echoes as he condemns the war crimes of Israel and the US. This slogan lights the path for all who refuse to stay silent on the killing of innocents,”Qalibaf said in a post on the US social media company X.

He added that the pope’s leadership “inspires millions” and thanked him “for this light.”
Qalibaf’s remarks come after a series of statements by Iranian officials defending the pope following criticism from US President Donald Trump.

Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned what he described as insults directed at Pope Leo, saying disrespect toward the pontiff and Jesus is unacceptable.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian said he was speaking “on behalf of the great nation of Iran,” adding that the desecration of “Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood,” is not acceptable to any free person.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also criticized Trump’s remarks against the pope.

“In an era when the thunder of bombs and the clamor of warlords and aggressors weigh heavily on the world’s conscience, the words of Pope Leo XIV echo the profound call of the Gospel: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers,’” ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said in a post on X.

He added that insulting the pope is “not only unchristian,” but also “a blatant assault on responsible advocacy for peace, justice and humanity.”

The reactions followed a broadside by Trump against Pope Leo, in which he described the pontiff as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” while also questioning the circumstances of his election.

Trump also criticized the pope’s stance on international issues, including the war involving Iran, and suggested that his leadership of the Catholic Church was politically motivated.

The US president also shared an AI-generated photo on Truth Social depicting himself as Jesus.

The pope, in response, said he was not afraid of the Trump administration and would continue to speak out against war, emphasizing that his position is rooted in religious principles rather than politics.