Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a brief response to a social media post by President Trump on Sunday evening.
“I am disheartened that the President chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father. 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.”
Bishop Jeffrey J. Walsh, of the Diocese of Gaylord, also prayerfully responded to President Trump’s social media post:
“Given the unprecedented public and personal criticism of Pope Leo and the Catholic Church by President Trump on his social media platform, I want to state my solidarity with our Holy Father and encourage the faithful to remain steadfast in the Gospel message of peace boldly proclaimed. True strength comes from God, not from our own abilities or perceived strength. As such, to the extent Pope Leo is characterized as ‘weak,’ let us take to heart the words of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:10: ‘That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’ Pope Leo XIV is the universal shepherd of souls God has given to the Church and the world.”
