Trump clashes with Pope Leo, who vows to continue speaking out against war

[0:00] president trump is openly condemning the head of the roman catholic church [0:04] after pope leo the 14th criticized the u.s and israeli war with iran [0:09] william brangham reports on the rare public battle between the president of [0:13] the united states and the first u.s born pope after his attacks on pope leo [0:19] earned him global condemnation the president this afternoon refused to [0:23] relent we believe strongly in law and order and he [0:27] he seemed to have a problem with that so there's nothing to apologize for he's wrong [0:33] the president's remarks today doubled down on his lengthy tirade online and on the tarmac last night [0:40] he's a very liberal person and he's a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime [0:46] he's a man that doesn't think that we should be toying with a country that wants a [0:53] nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world i'm not a fan of bob leo [0:58] the president spoke yesterday after returning to washington from florida [1:02] echoing his post on social media where he took issue with pope leo's criticism [1:07] of american actions in venezuela and iran he wrote quote i don't want a pope who [1:13] criticizes the president of the united states because i'm doing exactly what i [1:18] was elected in a landslide to do the president also implied that the first ever american pope [1:25] owed his job to trump writing if i wasn't in the white house leo wouldn't be in the vatican [1:31] today en route to algeria pope leo responded i have no fear neither the trump administration [1:38] are speaking out loudly about the message of the gospel and and that's what i believe [1:44] i am going to do it the pontiff defended his earlier comments about the evils of war [1:49] i basically said that the message of the church my message the message of the gospel blessed are [1:56] the peacemakers i do not look at my role as being political politician i don't want to get [2:04] into a debate with him i don't think that the message of the gospel is meant to be abused in the [2:09] way that some people are doing and and i will continue to speak out loud this against war looking [2:15] to push off peace promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just [2:22] solution to the problems it was pope leo's comments two days ago that apparently sparked the president's [2:28] anger at a special prayer vigil saturday night at saint peter's basilica leo denounced the quote [2:34] delusion of omnipotence that he argued was fueling the war in iran and other global conflicts [2:41] may the madness of war cease and the earth be cared for and cultivated by those who still know how to [2:49] create safeguard and love life today the president's comments about the pope drew widespread criticism [2:57] catholic bishop robert baron who leads the diocese of winona rochester in minnesota [3:02] and serves on the white house's religious liberty commission wrote the statements made by president [3:08] trump on truth social regarding the pope were entirely inappropriate and disrespectful i think [3:14] the president owes the pope an apology the head of the u.s conference of catholic bishops archbishop paul [3:20] coakley also issued a statement quote i am disheartened that the president chose to write such [3:26] disparaging words about the holy father pope leo is not his rival nor is the pope a politician he is [3:34] the vicar of christ who speaks from the truth of the gospel and for the care of souls president trump [3:40] stoked more outrage when he posted this christ-like image of himself hands glowing and healing a sick [3:47] man when even some allies condemned the image as blasphemy the president took it down saying it had been [3:54] misconstrued it was me i i did post it and i thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with red [4:02] cross is a red cross worker there which we support and only the fake news could come up with that one [4:10] president trump's relationship was also tense with pope leo's predecessor pope francis they clashed at [4:16] times over immigration and climate change after francis died the president posted another ai generated image [4:24] this one of himself wearing papal robes meanwhile after landing in algeria today in this place let us [4:33] remember that god desires peace for every nation pope leo laid a wreath at the monument honoring those [4:40] who died in that nation's war for independence and said a prayer for peace for the pbs news hour i'm [4:47] william brangham support journalism you trust support pbs news donate now or even better start a monthly [5:07] contribution today [5:12] you