The “Political Pontiff” is at it again….

If you’ve been watching the news this week, you’ve probably noticed the new Pope just can’t seem to help himself.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope in the history of the Catholic Church, is barely into his pontificate and he’s already wading knee-deep into American politics. And I have to tell you, the pattern is getting old fast.

Here’s what happened.

While on his 11-day trip to Africa, Pope Leo repeatedly took jabs at world leaders spending “billions on war,” made not-so-subtle references to U.S. foreign policy, and criticized the Trump administration’s actions in Iran. Then, when reporters pressed him about it on the papal plane from Cameroon to Angola on Saturday, he said this:

“It is not in my interest at all” to debate the president.

“The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone.”

Okay. Sure.

So you’re telling me that condemning “a handful of tyrants spending billions on war” while the entire world knows you’re talking about the President of the United States… that’s not an attack on anyone?

Check me on this, but that sure sounds like an attack dressed up in a white robe.

This whole thing kicked off after President Trump watched a 60 Minutes segment back on April 12th that highlighted the Pope’s criticisms of U.S. policy. Trump, never one to let a shot go unanswered, fired back on social media, telling the Pope to “stop catering to the Radical Left.”

https://x.com/AP/status/2043501337023848772

And honestly? I think Trump has a point here.

The President has every right to disagree with the Pope on foreign policy. That is not a theological question. That is a geopolitical question. Iran’s nuclear program is a threat to Israel, a threat to the entire Middle East, and a threat to global security. You can debate the best way to handle it, but a pope lecturing the American president about military strategy while 42,000 innocent people have already been killed by the Iranian regime? That’s not moral clarity. That’s selective outrage.

And here’s the part that really gets me.

Pope Leo claims he has “no fear of the Trump administration” and that he’ll keep “speaking out loudly” about the Gospel message.

https://x.com/EWTNews/status/2043674503419507160

Great. Speak loudly about the Gospel. Please do. The world desperately needs more of that. But the Gospel is about the salvation of souls, the love of Christ, the hope of eternal life. It is not about scoring political points against a sitting president while you’re on an 11-day trip to another continent.

I know it will rock some boats and ruffle some feathers, but I’ll say it plainly: the Pope’s job is to shepherd the Church. To teach Scripture. To point people to Jesus Christ. It is NOT to become a cable-news pundit on American foreign policy.

And this isn’t new behavior. We saw the same thing with Pope Francis for years. The constant meddling in politics. The thinly veiled criticisms of conservative leaders. The cozy relationship with progressive causes that have nothing to do with the Bible. Francis donated $500,000 to migrants trying to cross the U.S. border. He repeatedly lectured world leaders on climate change. He questioned whether capitalism itself was moral.

Now Pope Leo XIV, barely warming the seat, is running the same playbook.

I want to be very clear: I respect the office. I respect the billion-plus Catholics around the world who look to the Pope for spiritual guidance. That is exactly WHY this matters. When the leader of the world’s largest Christian denomination spends more time commenting on military operations than on the state of people’s souls, something has gone sideways.

Vice President JD Vance actually handled this well, acknowledging that “real disagreements have happened” but noting that “the reality is often much more complicated” than the media narrative suggests. That’s a measured, adult response. Compare that to Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries, who immediately tried to weaponize the Pope’s words against Trump. That tells you everything you need to know about who benefits from a political pope.

Here’s the bottom line.

Pope Leo XIV says he doesn’t want a “debate” with President Trump. Good. Then stop starting one. Stop delivering speeches that everyone on earth knows are aimed at the White House. Stop pretending that broad condemnations of “tyrants” and “war” are just neutral Gospel preaching when the timing and context make the target crystal clear.

Preach the Gospel. Feed the sheep. Tend the flock. That’s the job.

The world doesn’t need another political commentator. It needs a spiritual leader.

What do you think? Is the Pope overstepping his role, or do you think religious leaders should weigh in on foreign policy? Sound off in the comments below!