Reuters. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered support to Pope Leo on Tuesday (April 14), after the pontiff was sharply criticised by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump set off the furore by calling Leo "terrible" in a long tirade on Sunday (April 12). He subsequently posted an AI image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, sparking further outrage among Christians.
"I express my solidarity with Pope Leo," Meloni said on the sidelines of a conference on the wine industry. "Frankly, I would not feel at ease in a society where religious leaders do what political leaders say."
The Italian Prime Minister, who is seen as close to the U.S. president, first said Trump's attack on Pope Leo was "unacceptable" on Monday (April 13), underscoring widespread anger in Italy over his broadside on the pontiff.
Speaking in Verona on Tuesday, Meloni also said it was important to press on with peace negotiations to end the war between the United States and Iran, also looking to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
