Sul Ross Catholics Weigh in On Trump Friction with the Pope

Photo of Pope Leo XIV from X account

By: Salisa Wellenreuther, Skyline Reporter  

ALPINE – Recently, the Trump Administration has faced some backlash due to President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance’s comments towards Pope Leo XIV.  

Anthony Quintana, a member of the Newman Club, a Sul Ross Catholic organization, echoed the criticisms of many in his faith over the “harsh” comments made by Trump and Vance.  

“It’s a misuse of Christianity,” said Quintana, who clarified that he was speaking only on his own behalf, not on behalf of the Newman Club or Sul Ross. 

Since being elected to the papacy on May 8, 2025, the Pope has made several comments about current events such as the war in Iran, from a Catholic viewpoint. With the Trump Administration pushing a Christian rhetoric, the negative and perhaps disrespectful comments towards the leader of the Roman Catholic Church have created a divide within Christian Republicans.  

Pope Leo had made comments on X condemning the attacks on Iran saying, “God does not bless any conflict,” and that war is blasphemous in the eyes of God.  After hearing the Pope’s negative thoughts towards his actions, the president responded, “He was very much against what I’m doing with regard to Iran, and you cannot have a nuclear Iran. Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result. I think he’s very weak on crime and other things, so I’m not going to apologize.” 

Pope Leo as well as other members of the Catholic church have also expressed displeasure with the mass deportations carried out by the Trump Administration. Cardinal Joseph Tobin referred to ICE as a “lawless organization.”  

Quintana conceded that “religion does have a place in public policy, but not if it’s “used to weaponize or create an agenda of any kind.”  

This isn’t Trump’s first time using religious ideas or mediums during his presidency  as he has also been criticized for selling a “presidential edition” of the bible as well as posting an AI generated depiction of himself as Jesus healing an old man, later claiming he was posing as a Red Cross doctor. Trump’s actions have been viewed as sacrilegious by supporters and opposers alike and his attacks against Pope Leo XIV, who speaks from a strictly religiously moral stance rather than political, have created a divide between his supporters.  

The American born Pope Leo was expected to be more compliant with American politics, but the reality has not been so. When asked about the Pope addressing certain issues, Cardinal Joseph Tobin remarked, “He's the pastor of the world. He's not a pundit. So, the distinction is he's not going to pronounce everything. But he's going to pronounce on what's important.” The Pope has expressed that he is not against the President, but is for peace and a better, kinder world.