Trump renews attacks on Pope Leo just days before Rubio’s Vatican trip

US President Donald Trump has renewed his criticism of Pope Leo, potentially complicating a fence-mending visit that Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to make this week to the Vatican.

In an interview with conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt, Trump said the first American-born pontiff is helping Iran and also making the world less safe with his comments about the importance of not treating immigrants with disrespect.

“The pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said in the interview on Monday. “And I don’t think that’s very good. I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people.”

The pope, however, has not said Iran should obtain nuclear weapons. He has called for more peace talks, and criticised war with Iran generally and Trump’s specific threats of mass civilian strikes.

The pope also has emphasised that he is reflecting biblical and church teachings, not speaking as a political rival to Trump.

Regardless, Trump’s latest comments may make Rubio’s task more difficult when he sees the pontiff on Thursday.