The pope and the president have been exchanging criticisms in recent weeks over the war in Iran.
Quoting from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:9) last month, Pope Leo did not mention any names but clearly took a dig at President Trump.
"I don't think that the message of the gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing," he said.
Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the pope in an effort to ease tensions between the two. During a brief appearance in front of the cameras, the pope gave Rubio the symbolic gift of an olive-wood pen. "Being, of course, the plant of peace," he stressed.
Following their 45-minute-long closed-door meeting, the first between the head of the Catholic Church and a Trump Cabinet official in nearly a year, Rubio, a practicing Catholic, said on X that he underscored "our shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity;" a Vatican statement said there was an "exchange of views" on the regional and international situation.
Meanwhile, Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas told Fox News the Sermon on the Mount was addressed to individuals who want to follow Christ.
"The pope ought to know, and I think he does know, God created both the Church and government for two distinct purposes," the pastor noted. "The role of the Church is to point people to faith in Jesus Christ, but the role of government is to protect citizens from evildoers"
Jeffress detailed that he was in the Oval Office with President Trump days after the war began and was told Iran was within weeks of getting a nuclear weapon that could destroy Israel, much of the Middle East, and bring great harm to America.
The president had no choice but to act.
"The great irony is it looks like President Trump has a better understanding of what the Bible teaches about the role of government than the pope has," Pastor Jeffress said. "The pope is sincere in his faith, but he is sincerely wrong when it comes to Iran."
