The relationship between the Vatican and the White House has always been a little bit like a high-stakes chess match. But when it comes to Pope Francis and Donald Trump, it’s felt more like a public boxing match at times. Honestly, if you've been following the news over the last decade, you’ve probably seen the headlines. One day they are trading barbs over border walls; the next, the Pope is offering prayers for the President’s wisdom.
It’s messy. It’s nuanced. And it’s definitely not as simple as "the Pope hates Trump" or vice versa.
What Did Pope Francis Say About Trump During the 2024 Election?
The most recent flare-up happened during the heat of the 2024 campaign. Pope Francis was on a plane back from Singapore—he seems to do his most candid talking at 30,000 feet—and journalists basically backed him into a corner. They asked him how American Catholics should handle a choice between a candidate who wants to deport millions (Trump) and a candidate who supports abortion rights (Harris).
His response was blunt. He didn't use their names, but everyone knew who he was talking about. He said both were "against life."
"One must choose the lesser of two evils. Who is the lesser of two evils? That lady or that gentleman? I don't know. Everyone with a conscience should think on this and do it."
This wasn't a ringing endorsement of anyone. It was more of a heavy sigh. He called the rejection of migrants a "grave sin" and compared abortion to "assassination." For the Pope, both sides of the American political coin were failing the moral test. He wasn't telling people who to vote for, but he was definitely telling them that neither option was particularly good in the eyes of the Church.
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The Famous 2016 "Not Christian" Comment
You can't talk about what Pope Francis said about Trump without going back to where the beef started. In February 2016, during Trump's first run for the presidency, Francis was asked about the plan to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
His quote became instant legend: "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian."
Trump, being Trump, didn't take that lying down. He fired back almost immediately during a campaign stop in South Carolina, calling it "disgraceful" for a religious leader to question someone's faith. He even suggested that if ISIS ever attacked the Vatican, the Pope would wish Donald Trump was president to protect him.
It was a wild moment in political history. But if you look at the transcript, Francis actually gave Trump a bit of a "benefit of the doubt" in that same breath, saying he'd only call him "not Christian" if it were true that he said those things. Still, the "walls vs. bridges" metaphor became the defining image of their relationship.
A New Tone for 2025 and 2026
Fast forward to right now. Donald Trump is back in the White House as the 47th President, and the tone from the Vatican has shifted from campaign-trail criticism to diplomatic reality.
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When Trump was inaugurated in January 2025, Pope Francis sent a formal message. He didn't bring up the wall. Instead, he offered prayers for "wisdom, strength, and protection." He spoke about the U.S. being a "land of opportunity and welcome for all" and urged Trump to lead in a way that builds a "just society where there is no room for hatred, discrimination, or exclusion."
It’s classic Vatican diplomacy: firm on values but respectful of the office.
However, don't think for a second the Pope has gone soft on the issues. Just a day before that inauguration, he did an interview with an Italian broadcaster where he called the idea of mass deportations a "disgrace." He argued that it makes the "poor wretches who have nothing" pay the price for global inequalities.
Where They Actually Agree (And Where They Don't)
People like to put these two into boxes. "Trump is conservative; the Pope is liberal." But the Catholic Church doesn't fit into the American "Left vs. Right" mold.
The Friction Points:
- Migration: This is the big one. Francis sees welcoming the stranger as a biblical mandate. Trump sees border security as a national security mandate.
- Climate Change: The Pope wrote an entire encyclical (Laudato si') about protecting the environment. Trump has famously called climate change a "hoax" and pulled out of international agreements.
- Social Safety Nets: The Pope is a massive critic of "unfettered capitalism." Trump’s policies often lean into deregulation and tax cuts.
The Overlap:
- Abortion: Both are officially opposed to abortion, though they approach it differently. The Pope sees it as a fundamental human rights issue; Trump has approached it more as a political and legal "states' rights" issue.
- Religious Freedom: This is a shared concern, especially regarding the protection of Christians globally, though their methods of "protection" differ wildly.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Feud
The biggest misconception is that the Pope is trying to "take down" Trump. In reality, the Pope treats every world leader this way. He’s criticized leaders in Europe for the same migration stances. He’s pushed back against the "throwaway culture" in both wealthy capitalist nations and socialist dictatorships.
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When you ask what did Pope Francis say about Trump, you’re usually looking at a snapshot of a much larger theological worldview. For Francis, the Gospel isn't a political platform. He isn't a Democrat or a Republican. He’s an 89-year-old Jesuit from Argentina who thinks the world is leaving the most vulnerable people behind.
Why This Still Matters in 2026
As we move through 2026, these two figures remain the most influential men in their respective spheres. One leads the world’s lone superpower; the other leads 1.3 billion Catholics.
Their interactions matter because they influence how millions of people think about morality and policy. When the Pope calls a policy a "disgrace," it gives cover to religious activists to oppose it. When Trump claims he’s the "defender of faith," it resonates with a specific base of voters who feel the Pope is too political.
Actionable Insights for Following This Relationship
If you’re trying to keep up with the latest developments between the Vatican and the Trump administration, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Watch the Papal Plane: This is where the real talk happens. Official Vatican statements are scrubbed by lawyers and diplomats. Airborne press conferences are where the Pope says what he actually thinks.
- Differentiate Between the Pope and the U.S. Bishops: Often, the American bishops have a much different (and sometimes more confrontational) relationship with the President than the Pope does.
- Look Beyond the Headlines: If a headline says "Pope Slams Trump," go find the full quote. Usually, the Pope is talking about a principle rather than a person. He rarely attacks individuals by name.
- Follow the Nuncio: The Apostolic Nuncio (the Vatican's ambassador to the U.S.) is the real bridge-builder. Watch his meetings at the White House to see if the relationship is actually thawing or freezing.
The "Pope vs. Trump" narrative is great for clicks, but the reality is a complex dance between two men who see the world in fundamentally different ways. One looks at a map and sees borders to be defended; the other looks at a map and sees a human family in need of a home. That tension isn't going away anytime soon.
Pay attention to the upcoming 2026 diplomatic visits. If a meeting is scheduled at the Vatican, the body language and the length of the private audience will tell you more than any tweet or press release ever could.