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It’s a presidential and papal battle that has become the latest front in the war in Iran.

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While the bombs being dropped are verbal bombs, they are loud and being heard around the world.

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U.S. President Donald J. Trump is not only fighting against the Islamic regime in Iran but with the Catholic pope too.

While serving a higher power, the pope does not answer to an American president — but that does not mean he is immune from facing his wrath. And wrath is what Trump rained down on Pope Leo on Sunday – even suggesting the pontiff supported the idea that Iran possess nuclear weapon capability.

“Pope Leo is weak on Crime, and terrible for foreign policy,” Trump posted to his Truth Social account, also adding, “I don’t want a pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.”

Of course, the Pope has never said that specifically. And he pushed back on it Monday morning while on the airplane heading to Africa — saying he’s not afraid of Trump.

“I have no fear of the Trump administration, or speaking out loudly of the message of the gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the church is here to do,” said Leo.

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But the loudest part of this story are the words, and later a meme the president posted to social media of Trump appearing as a Christ-like figure.

What Trump wrote on Truth Social

“Unfortunately, Leo’s weak on crime, weak on nuclear weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a loser from the Left, who is one of those who wanted churchgoers and clerics to be arrested,” Trump posted. “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use common sense, stop catering to the radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.

“It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!”

In Washington at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley said, “I am disheartened that the president chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father. Pope Leo is not his rival, nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls.”

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The American Pope, originally from Chicago who begins a pilgrimage to Africa Monday, had earlier expressed concern about Trump’s handling of the war in Iran – and specifically a social post last week that suggested the “civilization” could “die.” At Castel Gandolfo on April 7, the Pope said “today, as we all know, there has also been this threat against the entire people of Iran, and this is truly unacceptable” and “there are certainly issues of international law here, but even more, it is a moral question concerning the good of the people as a whole.”

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Trump has defended the comment, saying it brought Iranian officials to the negotiation table – although those negotiations broke down over the weekend.

Trump says he made Leo pope

The situation now seems to be heading towards the Americans leading a blockade of ships heading through the Strait of Hormuz who have paid a toll to what’s left of the Iranian regime. But a lot of media focus has shifted over to to this personal attack on the first American pontiff, who Trump suggested was only elected to the top seat of the Catholic church because of him.

“Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be pope and was only put there by the church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump,” wrote the president. “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”

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The president has free speech and is entitled to say whatever he chooses. But so does the Pope.

Pope says he is not a politician

Leo on Monday added: “We are not politicians, we don’t deal with foreign policy with the same perspective he might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the gospel, as a peacemaker.”

While commenting on a decision of a president is stepping into the political arena, many agree with Leo that Trump suggesting the end of a “civilization” was offensive. But, others point out, there has not been the same criticism sent toward followers of the late Ayatollah, who Trump says killed more than 40,000 protesters.

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Many also found a meme posted on Truth Social inappropriate, showing an image of Trump caring for someone in a hospital bed surrounded by American themes below what appears to be a depicted demon with horns. Some call the imagery “blasphemy” and doubt it would be shrugged off if it was mocking the Prophet Mohammad. But who knows what could happen next in these strange times?

Whatever you want to call it, Trump does not hold back on who he lambasts or disrespects. From Prime Minister Mark Carney to the country of Spain to NATO to podcasters Alex Jones, Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens. But when he targets the Pope who heads a church with more than a billion followers, it’s whole new level of verbal warfare.

While they may not like it, Catholics and Christians can handle it. As Jesus Christ said, as cited in Luke 23:34, of those who were behind his crucifixion: “Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

jwarmington@postmedia.com

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