"The site writes that "as tensions escalated," one U.S. official "went so far as to invoke the Avignon Papacy, the period in the 1300s when the French Crown leveraged its military power to dominate the papal authority."

"Leo's criticism of Trump became more pointed after the president issued a deranged threat to Iran in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, writing, "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will."

The pope, calling the war with Iran "unjust," said later that afternoon, "Today, as we all know, there was this threat against all the people of Iran. This is truly unacceptable."

Leo went on to point out the harm being caused by Trump's war, which he said is "not resolving anything."

"In fact, we have a worldwide economic crisis, energy crisis, situation in the Middle East of great instability, which is only provoking more hatred throughout the world."