Bronx Catholics Upset by Trump’s Criticism of Pope Leo

BRONX, N.Y. 

The smell of incense lingers in the air as Mass comes to an end. Greeting, readings, homily, Eucharist, and final blessing  But these past weeks the ritual felt like a refuge. Many stayed after the blessing, talking quietly or sitting in the pews. For them, the service was a steady, familiar place to breathe and feel safe before heading back into the neighborhood’s noise. 

That calm didn’t last long. Outside the church and across the neighborhood, talk turned to a sharp exchange between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV over the war in Iran, diplomacy and nuclear weapons. Pope Leo urged leaders to “choose dialogue over arms” and said, “the Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons.” Trump claimed he was “not a fan of Pope Leo.”He pushed back, calling the Pope “very liberal” and “weak on crime,” and repeated a claim the pope did not make about Iran.

Many Bronx Catholics told us they were unsettled by President Trump’s recent attacks on Pope Leo. To them, the Pope represents their spiritual and moral guide, while Trump is seen as a political figure pushing the war in Iran and advancing his own values.

Marisol Peña worries about the effect the criticism of the Pope will have on her son. “I hear stuff like that and think about my son walking home from school,” Peña, a daycare worker, attends morning Mass every Sunday. “People act like it’s just politics, but it hits regular families first.”

A few blocks from the church, outside a corner grocery, 28‑year‑old delivery driver Daniel Ortiz said headlines about President Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo for not backing the war in Iran made him think about the higher prices he’s noticed since the war started. “Every time there’s talk of conflict, prices go up,” he said. “Gas, food, everything. We’re already stretched thin.”

“I’m Catholic, so I listen when the pope talks about peace,” said Steisy Cárdenas, a customer at the bodega. “Pope Leo pushing for dialogue instead of more weapons is what the Church has always stood for. When leaders shout, it just scares people. We need leaders who calm and protect us, not ones who stir up fear.”

“I grew up going to Mass every Sunday,” said Rosa Delgado, a mother of three. “The Pope speaks about human dignity and the poor. When the president talks tough, I worry about what that means for immigrants and families like mine. I don’t want rhetoric that makes people feel less safe or less welcome.”

The tension between the president and the pope also stirred conversations about leadership and priorities. Some residents said they felt politicians were more interested in scoring points than in protecting ordinary lives. They talked about wanting political leaders who could keep things running when life gets shaky: making sure shelves stay stocked, classrooms stay open, trains run on time, and that the people who are already struggling don’t get pushed even further to the edge.

“Politics feels far away until it isn’t,” Peña said, gathering her things. “We don’t want to be pawns in a bigger game. We just want to live our lives.” She paused, then added, “If leaders could remember that, maybe things would feel a little less scary.”