Diocese of Greensburg Bishop Larry Kulick said Thursday that Pope Leo XIV is “speaking from his rightful position” in criticism of President Donald Trump and the Iran war.
The polarizing debate between the president and the pope has pushed onlookers to opposing sides. But Kulick views Leo’s continued calls for peace amid the Iran war as a fulfillment of his papal responsibilities.
“The Holy Father is speaking from his rightful position as the Vicar of Christ, the successor of St. Peter, the spiritual head of the church,” Kulick said. “And he is preaching not a new message — [but] an ancient message. He’s preaching a message that is the message of Jesus Christ: peace. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers. They shall inherit the kingdom.’ ”
The pope used his Palm Sunday message to emphasize that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.” On Easter Sunday, Trump posted a profane message, threatening Iran’s power plants and bridges.
On April 7, Trump threatened to bomb Iran and eradicate a “whole civilization” — comments the pope called “truly unacceptable.” Trump retaliated Sunday. He called Leo “weak on crime,” told him to “focus on being a great pope, not a politician,” and posted an AI-generated photo depicting himself as Jesus.
Trump said Thursday he isn’t worried that his taunting of Pope Leo XIV might offend his voters, the Associated Press reported.
“I have to do what’s right — the pope has to understand that. … I have nothing against the pope. His brother is MAGA all the way,” Trump said, referring to Louis Prevost, the pope’s oldest brother, who has expressed support for Trump in the past.
The president has maintained that the Iran war is about stopping that country from developing a nuclear weapon and he criticized Iran’s leadership for killing its own people as he objected to the papal emphasis on peace.
Kulick does not view the depiction of Trump as Jesus nor Trump’s comments as too controversial to discuss with parishioners, he said.
“We, all of us, are called to treat each other with respect, propriety and dignity,” he said. “That is something I would expect every person, every human being to do. But we all fail, don’t we? Many times.”
Leo held a prayer vigil for peace on Saturday.
“War divides; hope unites,” he said during the vigil. “Arrogance tramples upon others; love lifts up. Idolatry blinds us; the living God enlightens.”
Kulick: Pope’s perspective ‘can serve everyone well’
The Diocese of Greensburg acted upon Leo’s calls for peace, hosting its own prayer vigil Saturday.
Kulick said he believes providing further opportunities for churchgoers to pray is a primary solution to the division generated by Trump and Leo’s discourse.
So is listening to those with opposing opinions, Kulick said.
“A lot of times when I listen to people, I may not agree with their position. I may find great scriptural or theological faults in their thinking,” he said. “But they allow me to learn a lot. And sometimes you learn more of what you need to do.”
Leo’s calls for peace in Iran should not be ignored, Kulick said.
“I think it’s very important not to simply brush off what the Holy Father is saying, because it is not simply a personal opinion,” he said. “He brings with him the treasury of the church’s teaching over time in the office.”
Bringing the 2,000-year-old background of the Catholic Church to modern conflicts and issues can only be of help to political leaders such as Trump, Kulick said.
“The Holy Father is bringing a perspective to this global situation that is not just this moment, not just this instance, not just this day, month, week or year,” he said. “I think that can serve everyone well.”
Trump’s jabs at Leo have drawn criticism from Western Pennsylvania Catholics.
But Kulick encouraged churchgoers to pause and reflect on the situation before issuing an emotionally charged reaction.
He takes a similar stance as a bishop guiding local Catholics through the tension between their president and their pontiff.
“Let’s not get distracted in this moment and allow this polarization, division and animosity to take us away from the focus of what we should be doing, and that’s proclaiming the Gospel,” Kulick said. “That’s what, I believe, Pope Leo is saying.
“Sometimes, the Gospel is not easy to hear, and sometimes, you have to let it, like rain, sink in.”
Pittsburgh bishop: ‘Respect for life is central’
Bishops throughout the country have spoken out in support of the pontiff.
Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop Mark Eckman was on a pilgrimage in Ireland Thursday and not available for an interview with TribLive. He issued a statement to the Trib on Tuesday.
“Pope Leo XIV, as the Vicar of Christ, serves as a spiritual shepherd with concern for everyone, no matter their faith,” Eckman said in the emailed statement. “He speaks by inviting us to live with reverence for human life and for the dignity of every person.
“As he has reminded us, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’ Respect for life is central, and the church continues to call for unity and for hearts open to communication and reconciliation. We are grateful for the Holy Father’s leadership and join him in this call, praying for calm in our world and for all who are working to build a lasting peace.”
Clergy nationwide weigh in
Archdiocese of Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Pérez reinforced Leo’s calls for peace in a social media post Monday — calling the pontiff’s message a reflection of the Gospel.
“While many expect political messages from the Vicar of Christ, it is his role to preach the Gospel of peace and the role of political leaders to secure the most efficient end to world conflict and division,” Pérez said. “His continued calls for peace, hope, diplomacy and the conversion of hearts should be heeded by all. The Church of Philadelphia stands by the Holy Father as he continues to call and pray for world peace as he has done since the beginning of his pontificate.”
Diocese of Scranton Bishop Joseph Bambera was saddened by Trump’s comments and dismayed by the AI-generated image the president posted, he said in a statement on the diocese’s website.
“I am praying for the president, that he may be guided by wisdom, humility and a sincere pursuit of peace,” Bambera said. “I am also praying for Pope Leo that he may be strengthened to continue speaking boldly for peace and justice, even in the face of criticism.”
Archdiocese of Portland (Oregon) Archbishop Alexander Sample said on Tuesday he was deeply concerned by Trump’s rhetoric, particularly because the president’s words came during the Easter season.
“(Trump’s) remarks during Holy Week and Easter fall short of the standard one would expect from both his office and his professed Christian faith,” Sample said in a social media post. “His threat to eradicate an entire civilization goes beyond what can be considered just or morally acceptable in war.
“Likewise, his criticism of Pope Leo, whom he has disparaged as ‘weak’ and ‘very liberal,’ is misguided.”
Bishop Robert Barron — of Minnesota-based Diocese of Winona-Rochester — called Trump’s swipes at Leo “entirely inappropriate and disrespectful.”
“They don’t contribute at all to a constructive conversation,” he said in a social media post Monday. “It is the pope’s prerogative to articulate Catholic doctrine and the principles that govern the moral life. In regard to the concrete application of those principles, people of good will can and do disagree.”
Barron, who serves on Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance and Brian Burch — U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, which is overseen by the Catholic Church in Rome — to speak with Vatican officials about the matter.
The statements made by President Trump on Truth Social regarding the Pope were entirely inappropriate and disrespectful. They don’t contribute at all to a constructive conversation. It is the Pope’s prerogative to articulate Catholic doctrine and the principles that govern the…
— Bishop Robert Barron (@BishopBarron) April 13, 2026
Archbishop Ronald Hicks, of the Archdiocese of New York, said the pope’s teachings “shouldn’t surprise any of us” during a Catholic Faith Network show.
“(Pope Leo) is concerned about peace in the world and the salvation of souls, and that he wants us to work and live for justice and peace,” Hicks said.
Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said Monday he was “disheartened that the president chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father.”
“Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the pope a politician,” Coakley said in a statement. “He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls.”
Bishop Michael Pham, of the Diocese of San Diego, echoed Coakley’s sentiment and said Leo has a responsibility to advocate for peace.
“Religious leaders and political figures each play distinct roles in shaping public discourse, and their words carry significant influence,” Pham said in a social media post Monday. “Throughout history, the papacy has served as a vital voice for peace, justice, and the care of the most vulnerable. Pope Leo’s leadership continues in that tradition, offering guidance that transcends politics and speaks to shared human values.”
In a statement on the Archdiocese of Boston’s website, Archbishop Richard Henning reminded readers of Leo’s greeting to the church following his election: “Peace be with you.”
“Here in the Archdiocese of Boston, we pray for Pope Leo in every Mass, and we receive his teachings with respect and a listening heart,” Henning wrote. “And we support and pray for our Holy Father in his service to God, to the Church, and to the world. May the peace of God reign in our hearts and in our world.”