LIST: Popes who voiced out their stance on political issues

Pope Leo XIV said he is unafraid and will continue to speak out on the escalating tensions in the Middle East despite the recent statements of United States President Donald Trump against him.

On April 12, Trump described the Pope as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy” following the latter’s criticism of his administration’s programs, including foreign and immigration policies.

“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,” the US President said on Truth Social. 

Pope Leo XIV is a vocal critic of the ongoing conflict between the US and Israel and Iran and has appealed to global leaders to choose peace.

“There has also been this threat against the entire people of Iran. And this truth is truly unacceptable! There are certainly issues of international law here but even more, it is a moral question on concerning the good of the people as a whole, in its entirety,” the Pope said. 

This is not the first time that a Pope clashed with a global leader. For years, some Pontiffs voiced their stance against policies that violated people’s rights.

Some of these leaders of the Catholic Church are:

Pope John Paul II 

Pope John Paul II visited more than 120 countries as leader of the Catholic Church and became a symbol of human rights and political freedom. During his visit to the Philippines in 1981, he openly condemned the human rights violations in the country in front of then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., father and namesake of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Even in exceptional situations that may at times arise, one can never justify any violation of the fundamental dignity of the human person or of the basic rights that safeguard this dignity,” he said.

In 1979, Pope John Paul II also visited Poland – his home country – and brought hope during the fight against the communist regime. His message of human dignity and freedom helped the solidarity movement, a labor and anti-communist group, that served as one of the key groups in toppling down communism in Eastern Europe.

Pope Benedict XVI

Prior to becoming Pope in 2004, Pope Benedict XVI said Türkiye should not join the European Union (EU) due to issues of religious identity in the country. He later clarified his stance during an official visit in 2006 and issued an official statement, stressing that any country joining the EU should be based on respect on religious freedom and rights of minorities. 

Pope Francis

Pope Francis was a religious leader who openly spoke out on political issues in the US, especially immigration. 

In 2016, he criticized then-presidential bet Trump over his proposal to construct a wall along the border of the US and Mexico. 

“A person who thinks only of building walls, wherever it may be, and not of building bridges is not Christian,” he said.

Trump denounced his statements, calling it as “unbelievable” and “disgraceful.” 

Following his tirade against Pope Leo XIV, Trump posted an AI-generated photo depicting himself as Jesus Christ. He later said the photo was meant to depict himself as a doctor.

In a separate statement, Trump said he is not a fan of the Pope and claimed that the leader of the Catholic Church is not fulfilling his duties. — JMA, GMA News