Addressing President Donald Trump’s comments about the pope, Diocese of Phoenix Bishop John Dolan says peace is not weakness, but the strength of God.
On Sunday, Trump posted a long tirade against Pope Leo XIV on social media, calling him “WEAK on crime and terrible for foreign policy.”
Trump wrote about COVID-19’s effect on some religious services — which happened before Pope Leo’s selection in 2025 — and said he’s more fond of Leo’s older brother, Louis Prevost, because he supports Trump’s politics.
Trump also criticized Leo for voicing concerns over the U.S. abducting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and launching a war against Iran.
“Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump,” Trump wrote. “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
Shortly after the diatribe, Trump posted an image of himself depicted as a Christ-like figure in a white robe with a red shawl and a bright glow around him.
Trump deleted the picture the next day and told reporters he thought the image was depicting him as a doctor and had something to do with the Red Cross.
“Only the fake news could come up with that one. … It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better,” Trump said.
Trump did not delete his comments about the pope and declined to apologize.
“No, I won't. Pope Leo said things that are wrong, he was very much against what I'm doing with regard to Iran,” Trump said.
Dolan leads one of the largest dioceses in the country, with 94 parishes and 24 missions across the state.
He said in a statement on Monday that the pope should not be treated as a politician because he isn’t one.
“The Church does not exist to advance political agendas, but to proclaim the Gospel, to form consciences, and to remind the world of the dignity of every human person,” Dolan said in a statement. “It is important to say clearly: the Holy Father is not a politician, nor should he be reduced to one. His role is to shepherd souls, to call us to holiness, and to point us toward Christ, the Prince of peace.”
Dolan went on to say that although war may sometimes be a necessity, it is “never our salvation.”
“Peace — not power, not force, not victory in worldly terms — is the gift Christ gives to His people,” Dolan wrote.
He encouraged all to prioritize peace going forward.
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