The Vicariate of Rome issued a statement April 13 expressing solidarity with its bishop, Pope Leo XIV, after President Donald Trump heavily criticized the Holy Father in a social media post.
“Gathering up the sentiments of the People of God present in the Diocese of Rome, I echo them in expressing solidarity and confirming full support for our Bishop, Pope Leo XIV, in the face of shocking attacks on his magisterium of peace,” Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the vicar of the Diocese of Rome, said in the statement, according to an English translation posted by Dominican Father Thomas Petri. Fr. Petri is the president of the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies.
Il cardinale vicario Baldo Reina: "Solidarietà a Papa Leone XIV". pic.twitter.com/cK0XxOVWQy
— Diocesi di Roma (@diocesidiroma) April 13, 2026
The message comes after Trump posted a lengthy April 12 Truth Social statement in which he claimed credit for the conclave’s outcome and said the Pope is “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.”
The Pope has repeatedly called for peace since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran. At other points throughout the first year of his pontificate, he has called for peace, negotiations, and disarmament amid other international conflicts as well. He has also warned of the dangers of nuclear arms.
Translation:
— Fr. Thomas Petri OP (@PetriOP) April 13, 2026
Vicariate of Rome
Office for Social Communications
PRESS RELEASE
Statement of Cardinal Vicar Baldo Reina:
“Solidarity with Pope Leo XIV”
Gathering up the sentiments of the People of God present in the Diocese of Rome, I echo them in expressing solidarity and… https://t.co/DjOJsTx8jk
On April 13, Pope Leo also spoke about the importance of the beatitude “Blessed are the peacemakers,” in a statement to journalists about Trump’s remarks.
“I have no fear of the Trump administration, nor speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, that’s what I believe I am called to do, what the Church is called to do,” Pope Leo said. “We’re not politicians. We’re not looking to make foreign policy with the same perspective that he might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers,’ is a message that the world needs to hear.”
Cardinal Reina echoed those remarks, saying the Gospel of the Beatitudes sums up the Church’s mission.
“No one and nothing, dazzled by the illusory glare of domineering power,” the cardinal remarked, “will be able to hinder this proclamation.”