Giorgia Meloni says Trump’s rant against Pope Leo ‘unacceptable’

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a rare public criticism of President Trump on Monday, stating his Sunday comments about Pope Leo XIV were 'unacceptable,' though the article does not specify what Trump said beyond the characterization. The Hill, a T2 national outlet with a named byline (Max Rego), reports Meloni's statement straightforwardly, though the article excerpt provided lacks substantive detail about Trump's actual remarks or Meloni's full justification—limiting depth despite the news value. Corroboration from Reuters, BBC, Politico, and the New York Times confirms Meloni's statement and adds context that Trump accused the Pope of being weak on crime and foreign policy, and that the Pope responded with 'no fear,' while also noting Trump refused to apologize. Watch for whether this strain between Trump and the Vatican—two figures typically aligned with right-wing European politics—escalates further, and whether other allies of Trump follow Meloni's lead in publicly distancing themselves from his papal criticism.