To our dismay, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has been an outspoken critic of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, hypocritically condemning President Donald Trump’s rhetoric and military actions. 

Critics, including savvy commentators in Providence Magazine, have argued recently that the pope’s stance is wrong by calling it a flawed war doctrine that equates the actions of an “evil regime” with a nation defending itself. 

Specifically, critics argue Pope Leo fails to recognize that the Iranian regime is the true aggressor, having killed Americans, supported terrorism and attacked civilians, rather than a victim of unprovoked U.S. aggression.

And while the pope and some U.S. bishops claimed the war was unjust, opponents argue the U.S. strikes are justified responses to decades of attacks on U.S. warfighters and civilians, fulfilling requirements for just defense.

Critics also rightly maintain that the Iranian leadership cannot be negotiated with, comparing the pope’s naive push for diplomacy to failed efforts to appease Adolf Hitler, and arguing that the U.S. must act to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Pope Leo’s condemnation of military action to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power is seen by critics as equating a nation defending itself (U.S./Israel) with a state committing atrocities.

Some critics also argue the pope does not adequately address the actions of Iran’s proxies or the regime’s threat to regional stability. 

What’s more Pope Leo — foolishly — called President Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization “truly unacceptable,” stating that targeting Iranian civilian infrastructure violates international law.

The pope has consistently highlighted the suffering of innocent civilians, children and the elderly, calling for a stop to the “escalation of a war.”

He has implored leaders to “come back to the table” for dialogue — and rejected the use of religious justification for war.

While Pope Leo welcomed a two-week ceasefire early this month as a “sign of living hope,” we agree with his more worldly critics who argue that, by focusing primarily on de-escalation and opposing the U.S.-led action, the pope is not sufficiently holding the Iranian regime accountable for its actions.

Besides his woke stance on the Iran war, it is noteworthy that the pope also is hypocritical for criticizing the building of U.S. border walls — as he securely relaxes behind the fortified walls of Vatican City. 

We think the pope needs to “stick to the Catholic Church” and his church’s own issues, as U.S border czar Tom Homan recently noted.