President Donald Trump this week criticized Pope Leo XIV on social media. University President Fr. Robert Dowd issued a statement supporting the pope hours after Trump’s posts on Truth Social.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.” He specifically singled out the Leo’s positions on the U.S. attacks on Iran and Venezuela. He also said that “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
On Monday, the University published a statement from Dowd stating, “Pope Leo XIV continues to proclaim the Gospel of Christ by upholding human dignity and serving as a tireless advocate for peace. His message transcends partisan political divisions in this or any country and I’m deeply grateful for Pope Leo’s inspiring example. I ask members of the Notre Dame community to pray for peace and work together with all people of goodwill to build a more just and humane world.”
Hours after his post attacking Leo, Trump posted an image that appeared to depict himself as Jesus Christ, which experts say was likely generated by artificial intelligence. It has since been taken down. Trump said it showed him as a doctor.
On X, Notre Dame College Republicans posted a response to the president’s post, describing the Trump’s statement as “incoherent and imprudent,” while also criticizing Leo and Catholic clergy for what they described as selectively intervening in American politics during the Trump administration.
College Republicans co-president Luke Woodyard declined to elaborate on the group’s response, writing, “It’s pretty self-explanatory.”
Notre Dame College Democrats posted a statement on Instagram in support of Dowd and Leo.
The statement read, “As Notre Dame College Democrats we condemn President Trump’s recent attacks on Pope Leo XIV. While the President chooses to pick fights with a leader dedicated to peace and quality, we stand with Fr. Dowd in defending the Holy Father’s mission. As Fr. Dowd stated, this message ‘transcends partisan and political divisions.’ By dragging the Papacy into partisan mud, the President is attacking the fundamental values of Catholicism; our obligation to the poor and displaced. Politics should be a tool for justice, not for the ego. We join Fr. Dowd in calling on our community to reject the rhetoric and ‘work together to build a more just and humane world.’ Our faith, our politics and our humanity demand nothing less.”
Alex Young, former president of College Democrats, also addressed the issue in a letter to the editor in The Observer, criticizing Trump’s “misunderstanding of Catholic theology” and calling on readers to “choose mercy.”
