Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sharply criticized US President Donald Trump for his remarks targeting Pope Leo XIV, calling them an 'insult' and a 'desecration of Jesus.' In a post on social media platform X, Pezeshkian expressed his condemnation on behalf of the Iranian people, emphasizing that disrespect towards Jesus, whom he termed a 'prophet of peace and brotherhood,' is unacceptable. This exchange comes amid rising tensions following the Pope's comments about the need for peace in the Middle East, where he asserted his moral duty to advocate against war. Trump, in response, accused the Pope of being 'weak' and interfering in matters involving Iran, further escalating the situation with social media posts, including an AI-generated image portraying himself as Jesus. The controversy has drawn reactions from religious leaders, with Catholic bishops in the US and Italy defending the Pope's role as a spiritual leader rather than a political figure. Archbishop Paul Coakley of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed disheartenment over Trump's remarks, reiterating that the Pope speaks from the truth of the Gospel. The Italian Bishops’ Conference echoed this sentiment, highlighting the Pope's call for dignity and dialogue during global conflicts.