“I find President Trump’s remarks about the Holy Father unacceptable,” Meloni said in a statement on Monday. “The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and proper that he call for peace and condemn all forms of war.”
Trump’s outburst has left Italian right-wing politicians under pressure to defend the Holy Father, given that their voters straddle nationalist conservatism and a strong attachment to Catholic tradition. Deputy Prime Minister and far-right League leader Matteo Salvini — a longtime supporter of Trump — was particularly vocal on Monday, telling local TV station Telelombardia that “if anyone is working hard on the issue of peace and resolving the conflict, it’s Pope Leo.”
“Attacking the Pope, a symbol of peace and spiritual guide for billions of Catholics, doesn’t seem like a useful or intelligent thing to do,” he added.
Meloni was initially more cautious, caught between loyalty to Trump on the global political stage and deference to a religious leader with moral authority among conservative voters as she looks toward an election in 2027. But she was forced to take a stand as pressure from the public and criticism from the opposition mounted on Monday.
Five Star Movement President Giuseppe Conte condemned Trump’s “unspeakable” attacks on Facebook and mocked Meloni for refusing to take a clear position despite her self-professed Christian identity, recalling her stance on the Iran war as “neither condemn nor support.”
Carlo Calenda, leader of the opposition centrist party Azione, called the prime minister’s failure to defend the Pope “embarrassing.” He said it had exposed Meloni’s political weakness and branded the prime minister as subservient to Trump while claiming the relationship has brought no benefits to Italy.