{"id":316134,"date":"2026-04-10T00:21:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:51:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=316134"},"modified":"2026-04-10T00:21:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:51:46","slug":"donald-trump-v-the-pope-who-will-come-out-on-top-news-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/04\/10\/donald-trump-v-the-pope-who-will-come-out-on-top-news-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Donald Trump v The Pope: Who will come out on top? | News World"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><figcaption>Within the blue corner we&#8217;ve got America\u2019s first-ever Pope, and within the Red corner America First\u2019s Donald Trump (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Donald Trump has tangled himself in an almighty rift with God\u2019s representative on Earth \u2013 The Pope.<\/p>\n<p>Upon hearing of the death of Pope Francis, the President told reporters, \u2018I\u2019d wish to be pope. That might be my No.1 selection.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>As a substitute, American-born Pope Leo XIV now occupies the Chair of St Peter. Despite this, and amid the Iran war, relations between Washington and the Vatican seem like reaching a breaking point.<\/p>\n<p>Trump, who also said only his own \u2018morality\u2019 can stop him, has still continuously been seeking to the Vatican for its approval for his designs on the world.<\/p>\n<p>A fired-up member of Team Trump dredged up a 700-year-old threat to Pope Leo after called the President\u2019s promise to wipe out Iranian civilisation \u2018truly unacceptable\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>One <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefp.com\/p\/why-the-vatican-and-the-white-house\">Vatican official told <\/a><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefp.com\/p\/why-the-vatican-and-the-white-house\">The Free Press<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0that Cardinal Christophe Pierre \u2013 Pope Leo XIV\u2019s ambassador to the US was summoned to a secret meeting on the Pentagon in January.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tJoin for all of the newest stories\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>Start your day informed with Metro&#8217;s <strong>News Updates<\/strong> newsletter or get <strong>Breaking News <\/strong>alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_292228489-1c34.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27909325\" alt=\"President Donald Trump speaks with reporters during a news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Donald Trump is in a rift with, of all people, the Pope (Picture: AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There Under Secretary of War for Policy, Elbridge Colby, delivered to the Cardinal what was described \u2018as a lecture\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Colby and his team told him America has the military power to do whatever it wants on the planet. And the Catholic Church had higher fall in line.<\/p>\n<p>On the fiery meeting, one US official reportedly invoked the Avignon Papacy, where the French pope fled violence in Rome to take up residency in C\u00f4te d\u2019Azur within the 14th Century. <\/p>\n<p>Other nations denigrated the move because the \u2018Babylonian Captivity\u2019, damaging the prestige and supposed independence of the papacy. <\/p>\n<p>The move led to the Great Western Schism where three rival Popes vied for power nearly causing the downfall of the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n<div class=\"video-player\">\n<div class=\"video-player\">\n<div class=\"metro-video-player  \" data-track-module=\"article_video-player-with-related-carousel\">\n<div class=\"vjs-video-container vjs-fixed vjs-responsive\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<video id=\"3632009\" class=\"video-js\" poster=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2026\/04\/07\/20\/107721309-0-image-a-2_1775589830280.jpg\" 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Leo said that threats against the population of Iran are 'unacceptable,' in an unusual appeal hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said 'a whole civilisation will die tonight' in a social media post that shocked world leaders.\",\"title\":\"Pope Leo calls Iran war 'unjust', urges people to 'reject war, always'\",\"videoId\":3632009}\" preload=\"metadata\" playsinline=\"\"><source src=\"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2026\/04\/07\/5374580015446117495\/480x270_MP4_5374580015446117495.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><\/source><\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to an internet<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbrowser that<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">supports HTML5<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo<\/a><\/p><\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The fallout of the disastrous meeting led the Vatican to cancel a planned trip to the US on Independence Day.<\/p>\n<p>However the Pope doesn\u2019t appear to have been particularly bothered by the furore and was recently pictured spinning a basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters.<\/p>\n<p>In a move that may infuriate the White House further, Leo urged people to contact their political leaders and congressional representatives to ask them, tell them to work for peace and to reject war.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_292419256-a7d5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27915158\" alt=\"This photo taken and handout on April 8, 2026 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Leo XIV meeting with members of the Harlem Globetrotters at the end of the weekly audience in The Vatican. (Photo by Simone Risoluti \/ VATICAN MEDIA \/ AFP via Getty Images) \/ RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT \" afp=\"\" photo=\"\" vatican=\"\" media=\"\" no=\"\" marketing=\"\" advertising=\"\" campaigns=\"\" distributed=\"\" as=\"\" a=\"\" service=\"\" to=\"\" clients=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Pope Leo XIV showing off his God given talents at spinning a basketball<br \/>(Picture: AFP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018We&#8217;ve a worldwide economic crisis, an energy crisis, (a) situation within the Middle East of great instability, which is barely scary more hatred throughout the world,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n<p>He said the message to political leaders ought to be: \u2018Come back to the table, let\u2019s talk, let\u2019s search for solutions in a peaceful way and let\u2019s remember especially the innocent children, the elderly, sick, so many individuals who&#8217;ve already turn out to be or will turn out to be victims of this continued warfare.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>The Vatican also fears that the Iran conflict has spread to south Lebanon, threatening Christians who&#8217;re a very important protector of the church within the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p>Trump\u2019s team have been desperate for a visit from America\u2019s first Pope, but he has now reportedly snubbed his invitation to attend the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary events. <\/p>\n<p>As a substitute of spending July 4th in his homeland, the Pope will visit Lampedusa, a small Mediterranean island that has turn out to be an entry point for African migrants attempting to achieve Europe.<\/p>\n<p>When contacted, the War Department sought to downplay reports of the rift.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The<em>\u00a0Free Press\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0characterisation of the meeting is extremely exaggerated and distorted. The meeting between Pentagon and Vatican officials was a respectful and reasonable discussion. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018We&#8217;ve nothing but the best regard and welcome continued dialogue with the Holy See,\u2019 a War Department official said.<\/p>\n<p>However the Vatican could hand Donald Trump one other bloody nose by meeting with Barack Obama \u2013 who recently was giddy on a podcast, insisting the one person he would love to satisfy on Planet Earth is Pope Leo, without hesitation.<\/p>\n<p>And with the Pope\u2019s term in office normally only ending in death, and Trump\u2019s calls for a 3rd term, thus far, denied \u2013 there can only be one winner on the international stage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"><\/use><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: George Clooney hits back at Trump after White House\u2019s bizarre \u2018war crimes\u2019 jibe<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"><\/use><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: How strong is the US-Iran ceasefire \u2013 and has it already fallen apart?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"><\/use><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: US men to be routinely registered for military draft pool<\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\"><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-comments\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-preferred-source\" href=\"#social-preferred-source\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card accent--news\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card__inner\">\n<h4>News Updates<\/h4>\n<p>Stay on top of the headlines with day by day email updates.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Within the blue corner we&#8217;ve got America\u2019s first-ever Pope, and within the Red corner America First\u2019s Donald Trump (Picture: Getty) Donald Trump has tangled himself in an almighty rift with God\u2019s representative on Earth \u2013 The Pope. Upon hearing of the death of Pope Francis, the President told reporters, \u2018I\u2019d wish to be pope. That [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":316135,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20691],"tags":[1312,395,7839,1111,1313,813],"class_list":["post-316134","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world","tag-donald","tag-news","tag-pope","tag-top","tag-trump","tag-world"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316134","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=316134"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316134\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":316137,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316134\/revisions\/316137"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/316135"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=316134"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=316134"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=316134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}