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Pezeshkian said he condemned the remarks on behalf of Iran, adding that disrespect towards Jesus, whom he described as a “prophet of peace and brotherhood”, was unacceptable.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. (Image: Reuters)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday sharply criticised US President Donald Trump over his remarks targeting Pope Leo XIV, calling them an “insult” and calling the episode as a “desecration of Jesus”.
In a post on X, Pezeshkian said he condemned the remarks on behalf of Iran, adding that disrespect towards Jesus, whom he described as a “prophet of peace and brotherhood”, was unacceptable.
“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,” Pezeshkian wrote.
Row over war remarks
The exchange comes amid rising tensions following comments by Pope Leowho said he had a “moral duty” to speak out against war and promote peace, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Pope said he did not fear criticism from the US administration and stressed that the Church’s role was to advocate reconciliation.
“I have no intention to debate… I am not a politician,” he said, adding that the message of peace remained central to his mission.
“What I am saying is that the mission of the Church is very clear,” Pope Leo said. “The Gospel says… blessed are the peacemakers. I believe that the Church has a moral duty to speak out very clearly against war and in favour of peace and reconciliation.”
Trump had earlier criticised the Pope, accusing him of being “weak” and claiming he was interfering in matters involving Iran. He also said he was “not a big fan” of the pontiff and suggested that his comments on the conflict were misguided.
The US President further escalated the row with a series of posts on social media, including an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ.
Global reactions
The controversy has drawn reactions from religious leaders, with Catholic bishops in both the US and Italy defending Pope Leo. Archbishop Paul Coakley of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops said he was “disheartened” by the remarks, stressing that the Pope is not a political figure but a spiritual leader.
“Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls,” the head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Paul Coakley, said in a statement.
Similarly, the Italian Bishops’ Conference said the Pope represents a moral voice calling for dignity, dialogue and responsibility, especially during times of global conflict.
“In a time marked by international conflicts and tensions, his voice represents a forceful call to the dignity of the person, to dialogue and to responsibility,” the Italian bishops said in a statement.
They said they hoped “that all will show respect for his person and his ministry”.
(With inputs from agencies)
April 13, 2026, 9:03 PM IST
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