As usual, cartoonists have managed to surpass editorialists with their irony in depicting the facts. Stefano Rolli in Secolo XIX translated the attack by American president Donald Trump on the Pope, who is American as well, into the question one Swiss Guard asks another: “Let me understand, do we have nuclear weapons?” Like Iran bombed by Trump, precisely.
I frankly do not know if there is more method or less in the Hamlet-like madness and blasphemy of the American president. Who, even before being re-elected to the White House, had somewhat compared himself to God, then seeing in his protection the secret of presidential victory. Just yesterday, an image was electronically displayed for a few hours of him as Jesus healing or at least blessing a sick person. Also from yesterday is the metaphorical image of the Holy Spirit attributed by the American president to himself, taking credit, so to speak, for having elevated last year then-cardinal and compatriot Prevost to the top of the Church, succeeding the South American Pope Francis.
And he, Pope Leo XIV, ungrateful and armed only with the Swiss Guards, allows himself to criticize Trump’s wars and their outlines. He, always Pope Prevost, “weak” and “terrible in foreign policy.” Following the negative reactions raised somewhat worldwide, even in Italy by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who supports his climb to the Nobel Peace Prize, came the refusal to apologize. Indeed, the confirmation of his verbal attack. A Pope not at all intimidated, speaking about it with journalists, had it reduced on the front page of his Osservatore Romano, without naming him, to a “news” reminder of his words in response to the President of the United States: “I am not a politician, I speak of the Gospel. To the world leaders I say: no more wars.” Words, he repeats, of Leo XIV, whom Trump opposed by preferring his brother Louis. And perhaps awarding him some honors, only to withdraw them after some ultimatum, or penultimate ultimatum from him for proven unworthiness.
In the face of such stories of ordinary madness or blasphemy by Trump, Americans deserve human solidarity for still having him as president.
