Pope Leo XIV's criticism of Trump and their feud over Iran

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

32% left · 46% center · 22% right of 93 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 18 stories.

Every storyoldest first

1. May 2025

   May 8New pope previously shared criticism of Trump administration on social media5 articles · 5 independent sources

   2 left, 2 center, 1 right

2. September 2025

   Sep 18Pope Leo talks Trump, sex abuse scandals, LGBTQ+ welcome and China in his first interview8 articles · 6 independent sources

   3 left, 2 center, 0 right

3. November 2025

   Nov 5Pope Leo calls for 'deep reflection' about treatment of detained migrants in the United States9 articles · 9 independent sources

   0 left, 1 center, 1 right
4. Nov 18– 19Pope Leo backs U.S. bishops in opposing Trump’s immigration crackdown15 articles · 12 independent sources

   2 left, 3 center, 3 right

5. January 2026

   Jan 19– 20US Catholic cardinals urge Trump administration to embrace a moral compass in foreign policy25 articles · 19 independent sources

   3 left, 6 center, 2 right

6. February 2026

   Feb 18Vatican will not participate in Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’20 articles · 20 independent sources

   3 left, 2 center, 5 right

7. March 2026

   Mar 7Pope names veteran Vatican diplomat as ambassador to the US to manage relations with Trump7 articles · 7 independent sources

   2 left, 2 center, 2 right
8. Mar 29– 30Pope Leo XIV rejects claims that God justifies war in Palm Sunday Mass message34 articles · 22 independent sources

   3 left, 7 center, 3 right

9. April 2026

   Apr 7– 8Pope Leo XIV rebukes Trump’s Iran threat: "unacceptable"17 articles · 14 independent sources

   3 left, 4 center, 4 right
10. Apr 10– 15Pope Leo doubles down on peace and unity message as Trump's criticism continues18 articles · 13 independent sources

    4 left, 5 center, 1 right
11. Apr 11– 12Pope Leo XIV blasts 'delusion of omnipotence' fueling US-Israeli war in Iran25 articles · 15 independent sources

    1 left, 6 center, 1 right
12. Apr 13– 17Donald Trump shrugs off meeting with Pope Leo amid clash27 articles · 19 independent sources

    7 left, 6 center, 4 right
13. Apr 13– 14Pope Leo says he does not fear Trump, citing Gospel as he pushes back in feud over Iran war79 articles · 41 independent sources

    9 left, 13 center, 11 right
14. Apr 16Trump pulls millions from Miami Catholic charity amid Pope Leo feud5 articles · 4 independent sources

    2 left, 1 center, 1 right
15. Apr 17– 21Why the pope’s authority is confounding and maddening for Trump15 articles · 12 independent sources

    4 left, 2 center, 4 right
16. Apr 18– 19Pope Leo XIV says ‘not in my interest at all’ to debate Trump but will keep preaching peace33 articles · 22 independent sources

    3 left, 8 center, 3 right

17. May 2026

    May 3– 7Rubio arrives for meeting with Pope Leo XIV to ease tensions after Trump's criticism over Iran77 articles · 43 independent sources

    10 left, 12 center, 11 right

18. September 2026

    Sep 25Pope Leo XIV affirms need for media to cover public figures when asked about Trump ban24 articles · 21 independent sources

    3 left, 5 center, 2 right