The Cold War Splitting American Catholics, by Anne Hendershott

The relationship between the Trump administration and Pope Leo XIV has evolved into a kind of diplomatic cold war, shaped by a steady escalation of public papal denunciations and competing moral narratives in how each side interprets the responsibilities of global leadership. Pope Leo’s recent condemnations of U.S. policy—from military actions to the rhetoric of senior officials—have been unusually direct for a pontiff, signaling not just disagreement but a deeper mistrust of the administration’s moral framework.

Rooted in a series of high‑stakes policy clashes that have reshaped U.S.-Vatican relations, the media has highlighted the pope’s strong objections to the Trump administration’s war in Iran. But Pope Leo has also been increasingly critical of the administration’s immigration crackdown, emphasizing the Church’s longstanding teaching on the dignity of immigrants and the moral obligations of receiving nations. …

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