Pope Leo XIV weighed in on the Iran conflict this week, specifically targeting Trump’s statement that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran didn’t accept a deal. The Pope called the remark “truly unacceptable” and implored world leaders to find a peaceful path out of the conflict.

It is unusual for a sitting Pope to directly name and rebuke an American president over wartime rhetoric. Leo XIV has moved faster and more directly on geopolitical matters than his predecessor, and this week’s statement was notably unhedged — no diplomatic both-sidesing, no call for “all parties” to show restraint. The criticism went in one direction.