At churches with connections to Pope Leo and the Trump administration, pastors and parishioners speak out on the feud between the president and the pontiff.

Multiple Christian leaders who have shown support for President Donald Trump 's administration criticized the president's remarks about Pope Leo XIV and an AI-generated image appearing to depict Trump as Jesus Christ that he shared on Sunday, which he now says is an image of him as a doctor, not as Jesus.

Pope Leo XIV, the 267th pope and first ever American one, and President Donald Trump are locked in a heated war of words over war and church doctrine.

President-elect Donald Trump entered St. John’s Episcopal Church across Lafayette Square from the White House for a private service around 8:40 a.m. Outside the church a crowd of about 50 people gathered at 16th and I streets NW, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

Trump issued a strong rebuke of the pontiff for his anti-war position in a social media post Sunday, April 12. Pope Leo responded while on a flight to Algeria April 13, telling reporters he stands by his appeals for peace and isn't afraid of the Trump administration, USA TODAY reported.

Yet across the broad Catholic political spectrum – even among conservative-leaning bishops – there is dismay over Trump’s unprecedented verbal assault on Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead their church.

An unusual feud between President Donald Trump and the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, has broken out. Here's how it unfolded.

The move comes amid rising tensions between the administration and American Catholics.

A peace- and faith-focused sermon delivered during Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City did little to clear the minds of some parishioners who walked out of church saying they remained distraught over the extraordinary conflict that erupted between Pope Leo and President Trump a week ago.