A feud has escalated between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV over the war in Iran. The US president has refused to apologize to the pontiff after criticizing his opposition to the war in Iran. The feud began on 31 March, when Pope Leo made a rare direct appeal from Castel Gandolfo, saying he hoped Trump was "looking for an off-ramp" from the conflict. Pope Leo escalated his criticism on 7 April, declaring Trump's threat to destroy Iranian civilization "unacceptable." Trump fired back five days later, declaring: "I'm not a fan of Pope Leo." The Pope responded the following day, vowing to "continue to speak out loudly against war,” while Trump insisted he had “nothing to apologize for.”