Donald Trump and Pope Francis: A look at their clashes over the years
FILE-Pope Francis (R) listens to President Donald Trump during a private audience at the Vatican on May 24, 2017. (Photo credit: EVAN VUCCI/AFP via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump is traveling to Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, and the differences in philosophies between Trump and Francis through the years may likely become a topic of conversation.
From immigration to the environment, here’s a look back at Trump and Francis’ disagreements.
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Trump and Francis’ relationship deteriorates over time
The backstory:
During President Donald Trump’s first term in office, his relationship with Pope Francis wasn’t good. The Associated Press reported that Francis and Trump had a quarrel about immigration. In 2016, Francis, referencing then-candidate Trump, called anyone who builds a wall to keep out migrants " not Christian." Trump called the comment "disgraceful."
President Trump to attend Pope Francis' funeral
President Trump confirms plans to attend Pope Francis' funeral in Rome. Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social. "Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there," he posted.
Despite Trump’s issues with Francis over the years, the president has garnered support among American Catholics and influential bishops. Trump’s stances on abortion deepened his support among Christians, including many conservative Catholics.
Trump and Francis clashed on societal topics
Dig deeper:
President Donald Trump might have won the Catholic vote, but he never won over Pope Francis. According to the Associated Press, Vice President JD Vance, who met briefly with Francis the day before he died, dismissed the pontiff’s issues with the Trump administration.
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Trump also met once with Francis, in a meeting at the Vatican in 2017. But their differences continued over time. In February 2025, Francis sent a letter to American bishops that was similar to his comments on immigration almost 10 years earlier.
Francis rebuked the Trump administration’s embarking on plans for mass deportations and noted that in the Bible, the infant Jesus and his family were themselves refugees in Egypt, fleeing a threat to their lives.
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Meanwhile, some bishops supported some of the new Trump administration initiatives on "school choice" and policies defining gender as determined at birth. However, Francis took a more tolerant stance toward LGBTQ+ individuals.
Francis and Trump also clash on the topic of the environment, with the pope writing an encyclical calling for climate action, compared to Trump’s push to bring back fossil fuels. Francis also opposed the death penalty, something Trump favors. Moreover, Trump and Francis did share some policy goals on issues like abortion and religious freedom.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Associated Press, which offers background on the differences between President Donald Trump and Pope Francis. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.