Pope Worries About Spreading War Fever; Trump Administration Denies Pressure for Compliance

The Financial Times reported that Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born Pope, expressed deep concern over the trend of resolving international disputes through military force. He publicly warned, 'War is once again popular, and war fever is spreading.' Subsequently, Christophe Pierre, then Papal Nuncio to the US, was summoned to meet with Elbridge Colby, Under Secretary for Policy, at the Department of War. Colby's grandfather served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and collaborated with Pope John Paul II during the Cold War against communism. Francesco Sisci, co-founder of the Appia Institute, a think tank tracking Vatican diplomacy, stated that Trump officials might have believed Colby was therefore more suitable to convey a 'friendly message' to the Papal Nuncio, hoping the Vatican's stance would align more closely with Washington's policy in the future. Sisci noted that after the meeting, Pierre affirmed that the Pope would act autonomously based on Church values. At this point, another official (not Colby) reportedly mentioned the Avignon Papacy, a historical period when French kings supported 'antipopes' against the Roman Papacy. Sisci stated that this unexpected remark was interpreted as an implicit threat, suggesting that if the Pope's stance did not align with Washington's military policy, the US might foster another opposing pope. The Department of War stated that Colby's January 22nd meeting with Pierre and his team was 'substantive, respectful, and professional,' and media reports 'grossly exaggerated and distorted' the situation. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated that the Trump administration maintained a 'positive relationship' with the Vatican. 'After achieving military objectives against Iran, we hope the currently discussed agreement will bring lasting peace to the Middle East.' Relations between the Vatican and the Trump administration had been tense since Pope Leo XIV's succession. Leo XIV had criticized the White House's immigration policies from the beginning of his pontificate. Sisci stated that Trump's threat to destroy Iranian civilization 'deeply shocked' the Vatican. He said, 'The real problem is that the Church cannot accept putting a religious cloak or color on a war against the Muslim nation of Iran. The Church does not want any more crusades.' (Translated by Chu Hsiang-ping) 1150410