Cardinal says President Trump should apologise to Pope

By CathNews New Zealand

April 17th, 2026

Cardinal John Dew, right, meets Pope Leo XIV shortly after his election (Catholic Diocese of Christchurch)

New Zealand Cardinal John Dew says Pope Leo XIV is owed an apology by President Donald Trump for remarks the US leader made about the first American Pontiff. Source: Radio New Zealand.

Mr Trump criticised Pope Leo on crime and foreign policy and suggested he stop catering to the “radical left”. He also claimed if he wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be leading the Catholic Church.

The comments came after a prayer vigil for peace led by Pope Leo at St Peter’s Basilica, during which the Pope strongly called for peace and said “enough of the idolatry of self and money, enough of the display of power, enough of war”.

After the President’s remarks, Pope Leo said he didn’t want to get into a debate with him, but would continue to speak up against war and would promote peace. The Pope said the message of the Church, and his message, is “blessed are the peacemakers”.

Cardinal Dew said comments from President Trump and some of his allies “are totally, obviously wrong. The Pope has a right to speak out on issues that affect the world, issues such as world peace”.

Asked if Pope Leo is owed an apology by President Trump, Cardinal Dew said: “Yes, I think he should. But I don’t think he’ll get it. . . I don’t think anyone has the right to speak about another world leader in the way the Pope has been spoken about.”

US Vice President J.D. Vance, an adult convert to Catholicism, said the Pope should stick to moral matters, but Cardinal Dew said war is a moral matter, because of the destruction caused and loss of life involved.

In a statement posted to the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference’s Facebook page, Cardinal Dew said peace was a major talking point ahead of the conclave last May.

“Pope Leo heard from the cardinals about the importance of speaking out about world peace – at that time it was about Russia and Ukraine, and about Israel and Palestine.

“He certainly heard from the cardinals that working for peace and speaking out for peace was something that he would need to be doing, and which he is doing, very clearly and strongly, with the message of the Gospel behind everything he says.”

FULL STORY

Trump calls Pope Leo weak on crime and foreign policy (Radio New Zealand – audio file)

Catholic leader says Trump’s comments about the pope totally wrong (Radio New Zealand)

“The Pope has the right to speak out for peace and plead for peace” (Facebook/NZCBC)