Yes, Dear Leader, Pope Leo Did Criticize Iran for Killing Protestors
- By Michael Shackelford, Funny Farm News
A quote often attributed to Winston Churchill says, “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” That misattributed Churchillian gem reminds me of this pearl of prose from President Donald Trump. On April 14 President Trump “truthed:”
Screenshot of President Donald Trump’s Truth Social post, April 14, 2026.
Let’s analyze this statement and see what’s true and what isn’t. And by true, I mean factual, not true as in what’s a “truth” on Truth Social.
Were 42,000 Iranian protestors killed by the regime in the last few months?
Unknown. While the exact number of protestors killed by the Iranian regime is unclear, estimates range from 5,000 to 7,000 from various human rights and watchdog organizations, which is still a lot of blood on the regime’s hands. Could that number go up in the future? Absolutely. But that’s where most reputable, independent analysts put the number now.
Does Pope Leo think it’s acceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon?
FFS, in what world would THE POPE think that it is acceptable for Iran of all countries to have a NUKE?
On July 14, 2025, Pope Leo XIV wrote to Bishop of Hiroshima Alexis Mitsuru Shirahama:
Indeed, true peace demands the courageous laying down of weapons—especially those with the power to cause an indescribable catastrophe. Nuclear arms offend our shared humanity and also betray the dignity of creation, whose harmony we are called to safeguard.
In our time of mounting global tensions and conflicts, Hiroshima and Nagasaki stand as ‘symbols of memory’ (cf. Francis, Letter to the Most Reverend Alexis-Mitsuru Shirahama, Bishop of Hiroshima, 19 May 2023) that urge us to reject the illusion of security founded on mutually assured destruction. Instead, we must forge a global ethic rooted in justice, fraternity and the common good.
So, NO, Pope doesn’t think it’s acceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. For that matter, Pope Leo doesn’t think it’s acceptable for the United States, China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea to have nuclear weapons, either.
Is America Back?
No. It never went anywhere. It’s been here the entire time.
Did Pope Leo ignore Iranian regime’s slaughter of protestors?
No. After the Angelus prayer on Sunday, January 11, 2026, Pope Leo said:
Dear brothers and sisters,
As I have already mentioned, following the custom on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, I baptized several newborn children of employees of the Holy See this morning. I would now like to extend my blessing to all children who have received or will receive Baptism during these days – in Rome and throughout the world – entrusting them to the maternal care of the Virgin Mary. In a particular way, I pray for children born into difficult circumstances, whether due to health conditions or external dangers. May the grace of Baptism, which unites them to the Paschal Mystery of Christ, bear fruit in their lives and in the lives of their families.
My thoughts turn to the situation currently unfolding in the Middle East, especially in Iran and Syria, where ongoing tensions continue to claim many lives. I hope and pray that dialogue and peace may be patiently nurtured in pursuit of the common good of the whole of society.
In Ukraine, new attacks – particularly severe ones aimed at energy infrastructure as the cold weather grows harsher – are taking a heavy toll on the civilian population. I pray for those who suffer and renew my appeal for an end to the violence and for renewed efforts to achieve peace.
And now I greet all of you: Romans and pilgrims present today in Saint Peter’s Square. Grazie, thank you, muchas gracias!
I greet in particular the group from the Everest School of Madrid and the association Bambini Fratelli from Guadalajara, Mexico: Dejemos que los niños sueñen.
I wish you all a blessed and happy Sunday!
I included all the post-Angelus remarks so you could read the context for which the Iran comments were made. This may not seem like a lot in the 24/7/365 YouTwitFace clickbait news cycle we live in today, but for the Vicar of Christ, that statement is impactful.
The Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin reinforced the Pope’s message on January 11, 2026, when he spoke out against the Iranian regime by stating “I ask myself how it is possible to rage against one’s own people, that there have been so many deaths—it is an endless tragedy.”
Let’s return to the remarks after the Angelus. From the Catholic perspective, the Baptism of the Lord is the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. This event, along with the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist and Pentecost, is foundational in the life of the Church.
In the Baptism of the Lord, we have a milestone event in Christianity and one of the biggest days on the Church calendar. Then Pope Leo makes the feast day personal, talking about how he baptized the babies of employees of the Vatican, and likely many he’s grown to know during his time as pontiff and perhaps from his time in the Vatican before that. Then the Pope expresses his concern for children in peril throughout the world.
From concern for children and families Pope Leo turns to conflicts in the Middle East, naming Iran and Syria specifically. From there he talks about the Ukraine war and attacks on civilian infrastructure—sound familiar?—during winter, and a prayer for the war victims and for an end to the conflict.
Smokescreen vs White Smoke
Let’s look at Trump’s “truth” again:
Screenshot of President Donald Trump’s Truth Social post, April 14, 2026.
Pope Leo and the Vatican have strongly spoken out against the Iranian government’s killing of protestors, contrary to President Trump’s claims. During the Angelus the Pope mentioned three conflicts. The first two were Syria and Iran in the Middle East.
Syria is a predominantly Sunni country with Alawites in charge of the political leadership, and Iran, which is mostly Shia. Then the Pope discussed the Ukraine War, an inter-Christian conflict in Europe.
Is there a common theme to the Pope’s statements on war here? Yes. War is an affront to God regardless of the religion of the parties involved or where the war is being fought.
Receipts
Even if Trump wants to ignore it, Pope Leo and the Vatican have spoken out against the Iranian regime for killing protestors. The Pope doesn’t think it’s acceptable for any country to have nuclear weapons, let alone Iran.
