Iran defends Pope Leo XIV against US criticism

Abdullateef Fowewe

Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, has condemned insults against Pope Leo XIV by United State President Donald Trump.

Pezeshkian in a statement on Monday says, “His Holiness Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex), I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah.”

The message comes amid US President Trump’s public labeling of the Pope as “weak” on Iran policy and foreign affairs, coupled with controversial AI-generated images depicting Trump as Jesus.

Pezeshkian highlighted Islamic reverence for Jesus while positioning Iran against perceived US religious irreverence.