Pope Leo XIV is believed to have strategized on how to handle Donald Trump’s social media outbursts before the recent “unprecedented” verbal attack against him, according to a papal expert interviewed by The Mirror.

President Trump faced criticism after labeling the pontiff as “weak” in response to the Pope’s disapproval of his approach to the Iran conflict. Pope Leo had previously condemned Trump’s threatening language prior to the ceasefire, where the President spoke about “eradicating” the Iranian civilization.

An expert suggests that the Vatican likely anticipated potential clashes with Trump and had clear strategies in place. Dr. Miles Pattenden, a Catholic Church historian familiar with Pope Leo’s work, mentioned that Vatican officials are experienced in handling such situations and are focused on upholding the Pope’s moral authority without engaging in specific conflicts with political leaders.

While Trump’s dispute with Pope Leo is not the first time a prominent world leader has clashed with the Pope, the nature of Trump’s criticism could impact his support among a crucial voting demographic. Dr. Pattenden emphasized that attacking the Pope has historically been detrimental for political leaders, potentially alienating Catholic voters, even if they agree with Trump on certain issues.

In the past, Trump had secured a majority of Catholic voters during his re-election campaign in 2024. However, his recent behavior, including portraying himself in a messianic light, like with the controversial AI Jesus image, might harm his rapport with other Christian groups.

Dr. Pattenden noted that Pope Leo has been cautious in criticizing secular leaders’ foreign policies, aiming to distance himself from his predecessor Pope Francis, known for more direct criticism of world leaders, including Israel. However, Trump’s comments on Iran crossed a line for the Pope, prompting him to address the issue directly, which could impact his moral authority.

Pope Leo recently emphasized the importance of resisting the influence of the wealthy elite while on a diplomatic mission in Africa. He urged Cameroon’s government to combat corruption and promote peace and justice, particularly highlighting the need to end the ongoing Anglophone conflict in the country.