NYC Catholic leaders react to President Trump’s shocking social media statement against Pope Leo XIV

Catholic leadership in New York was somewhat split in its response to the conflict on Monday, with more progressive figures like Archbishop Ronald Hicks appearing to side firmly with Pope Leo — and more conservative groups like the Catholic League attempting to take both sides at the same time.

President of the Catholic League Bill Donohue criticized both leaders in a statement Monday, calling out Leo for not fully appreciating the “necessity of ‘just wars’” and rebuking Trump for being “offensive and immature.”

“There will no doubt be occasions where the pope and the president will continue to make public their disagreements,” Donohue said. “But there are so many other issues, such as religious liberty, where the two share a common interest. Let’s pray the latter prove to be controlling.” 

Archbishop Ronald Hicks, appointed in December to replace Cardinal Timothy Dolan, reposted Archbishop of Oklahoma City, Rev. Paul S. Coakley, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) statement on social media. 

“I am disheartened that the President chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father,” Coakley said. “Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls.”

“Thank you, Archbishop Coakley, for your strong statement!” Hicks said, quoting Coakley’s statement.

But the Archdiocese of New York has not yet issued a formal statement and has not yet responded to amNewYork’s request for comment. The same could be said for Bishop Robert Brennan of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, who also has not yet issued a statement.

Together, the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn represent 4.1 million Catholics in New York City’s five boroughs.

President Trump took to Truth Social Sunday evening to vent about the pontiff in a lengthy post, criticizing the new leader of the Catholic faith for being “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy.” 

The tirade followed Pope Leo XIV’s Saturday evening prayer service at St. Peter’s Basilica, during which the pontiff expressed exasperation for war and idolatry.

“Enough of the idolatry of self and money!” Leo said. “Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”

Even without directly naming and shaming President Trump himself, the American-born Pope’s message appeared aimed at Washington.

Sunday night, the president fired back with an unprecedented attack by a sitting American president against the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics around the world; an estimated 70 million Catholics live in America. 

“Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician,” Trump said on Truth Social. 

The State’s Catholic governor, Kathy Hochul, used Trump’s shocking tirade to distinguish her leadership from a theoretical future under Bruce Blakeman, the republican challenging her bid for reelection this November. Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki told amNewYork in a statement that Hochul will stand up to Trump when he disrespects religious leaders, likely referencing an exchange Monday in which Blakeman reportedly avoided questions about the president’s controversial rant.

“When Donald Trump attacks and disrespects faith leaders, Bruce Blakeman won’t stand up for them – he’s showing New Yorkers exactly who he is and what he stands for,” Radulovacki said. “Blakeman has said he ‘would never be disloyal’ to Donald Trump, and sadly New Yorkers are going to hear a whole lot more of this nonsense along with a whole lot of crickets from ‘100% MAGA’ Bruce.” 

Hochul has been critical of Trump’s perceived mockery of the Catholic faith in the past. In May of 2025, following the death of Pope Francis, she called an AI generated image of the president dressed as the Pope that was posted to the White House’s social media, “deeply offensive.”  

But the backlash of Trump’s AI-generated, Papal aspirations apparently didn’t make much of an impression, as the president proceeded to share another AI-generated image of himself, depicted in red and white robes in a style similar to images of Jesus. 

The image has since been taken down, and Trump claimed that he didn’t intend to compare himself to Christ. 

“It’s supposed to be as a doctor making people better,” he said. “And I do make people better. I make people a lot better.”

But the president stood firmly in his criticism of Pope Leo, refusing to apologize when asked by reporters on Monday.

“There’s nothing to apologize for,” Trump said. “He’s wrong.”

Leo has consistently called for de-escalation, urging dialogue and warning that war cannot be justified through appeals to faith.

“I have no fear, neither of the Trump administration, nor of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel,” he said. “And that’s what I believe I am called here to do.”