Catholic Youth's Response to Trump's Assessment of the Pope's Leadership
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Central Board (PP) of Catholic Youth stated that US President Donald Trump is mistaken in assessing Pope Leo XIV’s leadership as “weak” in dealing with criminality and detrimental to foreign policy.
“Labelling a global leader as ‘weak’ simply because he does not adopt a confrontational approach is an inappropriate simplification,” said the General Chairman of the Central Board (PP) of Catholic Youth, Stefanus Asat Gusma, in an official statement in Jakarta on Monday.
According to him, the statement reflects a difference in perspectives rather than an objective assessment of the Pope’s leadership capacity.
Thus, he opined that Leo instead demonstrates leadership relevant to modern global challenges.
In addressing criminality, he said, the Pope does not opt for an instant approach of punishment alone, but highlights root issues such as social inequality, poverty, and a culture of violence.
Furthermore, Gusma said the criticism of Pope Leo XIV’s foreign policy is also unfounded.
He explained that the Vatican has long played a role as a global moral force prioritising diplomacy, dialogue, and peace.
Therefore, he said, judging the Pope’s foreign policy by military power standards is mistaken.
Pope Leo XIV continues the tradition of peaceful diplomacy by calling for de-escalation of conflicts and protection of humanity.
For that reason, he stated that Trump’s remarks reflect a clash of two worldviews. On one side, there is an approach emphasising domination and pressure.
But on the other side, he continued, there is an approach placing justice, reconciliation, and human dignity as the main foundation.
Moral strength
In the current global context, he said the approach taken by Leo is not a weakness, but a form of moral strength greatly needed by the world.
As a Catholic youth organisation, the PP Catholic Youth expressed support for Pope Leo XIV’s leadership, which consistently advocates for humanitarian values, peace, and social justice.
Previously, Pope Leo XIV admitted he is not intimidated after US President Donald Trump called him “weak” for criticising the US-Israel war against Iran.
“I am not afraid of the Trump administration,” Leo told journalists on a flight from Rome to Algeria.
He said he would continue to speak out against war because he adheres to Gospel teachings.
According to the highest leader of the Catholic Church, he only adheres to Gospel teachings and will continue to “speak out loudly against war”.
Meanwhile, on the Truth Social platform, Trump said he does not want “a Pope who thinks Iran should have nuclear weapons.”
Trump called the American-born Pope “weak in responding to crime and his foreign policy is bad.”
The US President also assessed that Leo was elected as Pope “because he is American” and that is considered the best way to deal with him.
“If I were not in the White House, Leo would not be in the Vatican,” Trump said.