JAKARTA - Iran condemned the statement of the President of the United States against Pope Leo XIV, praising the attitude of the Supreme Leader of the Catholic Church in the war triggered by the US and Israeli attacks.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf praised Pope Leo XIV's stance on the US-Israeli war, describing his opposition to the conflict as something that "inspires millions of people" amid rising regional tensions.
"Respect the fearless attitude of Pope Leo! 'I am not afraid' echoed when he condemned the war crimes of Israel and the US. This slogan illuminates the path for all those who refuse to remain silent about the killing of innocent people," Qalibaf tweeted in a post on the social media X, reported Anadolu (14/4).
He added that Pope Leo XIV's leadership "inspired millions of people" and thanked him "for this light."
Qalibaf's statement came after a series of statements by Iranian officials defending Pope Leo XIV following criticism from US President Donald Trump.
Previously, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned what he described as an insult aimed at Pope Leo XIV, saying insults against Jesus and the Pope are unacceptable.
In a post on X, President Pezeshkian said he was speaking "on behalf of the great Iranian nation," adding that desecration of "Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood," was unacceptable to any free person.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also criticized Trump's statement against Pope Leo XIV.
"In an era when the roar of bombs and the bustle of warlords and aggressors weigh heavily on the conscience of the world, the words of Pope Leo XIV echo the deep call of the Gospel: 'Blessed are those who create peace'," said ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei in a post on X.
He added that insulting the Pope "is not only not Christian," but also "a blatant attack on the advocacy responsible for peace, justice, and humanity."
Iran's reaction came after President Trump's attack on Pope Leo, in which he described Pope Leo as "weak in dealing with evil" and "bad for foreign policy," while also questioning the state of his election.
President Trump also criticized Pope Leo XIV's attitude towards international issues, including the war involving Iran, judging his leadership in the Catholic Church to be politically motivated.
The US president also shared an AI-generated photo on Truth Social depicting himself as Jesus.
In response, Pope Leo XIV said he was not afraid of the Trump Administration and would continue to speak out against war, stressing his position was rooted in religious, not political, principles.
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