Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday expressed rejection of violence, war, injustice, and falsehood, in what appears to be his first response following recent criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.

In a post on X, the Pope stated that “God’s heart is not with the wicked, nor the oppressive, nor the arrogant,” a message widely interpreted as an indirect reply to Trump’s remarks.

Trump had criticized the Vatican leader after the Pope condemned the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran that began on February 28, describing him as “weak on crime” and “disastrous on foreign policy.”

He also accused the Pope of viewing Iran’s possession of nuclear weapons as “acceptable,” and shared an image of himself depicted as Jesus Christ on his Truth Social platform, sparking controversy.

The exchange highlights growing tensions between the two figures, amid stark differences over war and international policy issues.