Following President Trump’s aggressive foreign policy, including interventions in Venezuela and Iran, Pope Leo has voiced frequent opposition. This criticism comes after a Pentagon official allegedly warned the Vatican to align with White House foreign policy. The Vatican interpreted remarks alluding to the Avignon papacy as a threat of military force. Consequently, the Pope has declined a White House invitation and chosen a symbolic visit to Lampedusa instead of attending US anniversary celebrations.
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In a meeting that reportedly drew ire from top Pentagon officials, U.S. official Colby asserted that the United States possesses the military might to act unilaterally and suggested the Catholic Church should align itself accordingly. This sentiment emerged as a response to Pope Francis’s recent critique of what he termed a “zeal for war” replacing diplomatic dialogue, a stance that particularly aggrieved Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and others concerned about the Trump administration’s perceived militaristic tendencies. The encounter echoed historical precedents, such as the Avignon papacy, where secular powers exerted significant influence over the Church.
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John Q. Hosedrinker