LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Archbishop George Leo Thomas of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas issued a statement Sunday after President Donald Trump posted criticism of Pope Leo XIV on social media.
In the statement, Thomas praised the pope for “speaking truth to power” and urged a renewed focus on peace as the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran continues to escalate.
“I am grateful to God for sending us Pope Leo XIV,” Thomas said, adding that the pontiff is calling for “dialogue over diatribe, prayer over politics, and diplomacy above destruction.”
Thomas closed with a message of support: “God bless you, Pope Leo. We stand with you in prayer and offer you our loving support.”
The remarks come as tensions between Trump and the first U.S.-born pope have sharpened in recent days. On Sunday night, Trump stated on social media that Pope Leo is “not doing a very good job,” calling him “very liberal,” and urging him to “stop catering to the Radical Left.”
Trump wrote the comments in a lengthy social media post while flying back to Washington from Florida and repeated them after landing, telling reporters, “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo.”
Read the full statement from the Archdiocese of Las Vegas below:
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