Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for condemning Pope Leo XIV.
According to Reuters and ANSA on the 14th local time, Meloni told reporters that day, "A society in which a religious leader acts according to what a political leader says would be very uncomfortable," adding, "I express solidarity with the pope."
The previous day as well, Meloni took aim at President Trump, saying it was "unacceptable," and added, "It is right and perfectly normal for the pope to call for peace and condemn all forms of war."
Earlier, Pope Leo XIV criticized war through a prayer meeting and on social media (SNS), saying, "God does not bless any war." He also cited the Bible to say, "The prayers of those who wage war will be rejected."
In response, President Trump the previous day claimed, "If I were not in the White House, Leo would not be in the Vatican," and even posted on his social media what appeared to be an AI-generated image likening himself to Jesus.
Amid this situation, as the leader of the country that contains Vatican City, the center of Catholicism, Meloni appears to have made clear her support for the pope despite the burden on relations with the United States.
At one time, Meloni was considered the European leader closest to President Trump, but signs of a rift have emerged between the two sides after the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran. On the 11th of last month, Meloni said, "The U.S. and Israel's attack on Iran was outside the bounds of international law."
Meanwhile, when asked whether to import Russian gas to solve the energy shortage originating in the Middle East that day, she said, "Economic pressure on Moscow (the Russian government) is the most effective weapon for building peace," reaffirming a policy to reduce reliance on Russian energy. She added, "All efforts must be made to reopen the Strait of Hormuz."