What Long Island Catholics think of Trump's attack on Pope Leo XIV

President Donald Trump’s attack on Pope Leo XIV offended Long Island Catholics who spoke with Newsday on Monday, including some Republicans who otherwise support the president.

They said they disliked Trump saying Leo is "weak on crime" and caters to "the radical left" and by Trump subsequently comparing himself to Jesus Christ in an apparently AI-generated image. The image disappeared from Trump's social media on Monday after backlash, and Trump said it was meant to show him working as a doctor for the Red Cross healing people.

The Rev. Francis Pizzarelli, a Roman Catholic priest and founder of Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson, said that "the president really crossed the line when he disrespected the Holy Father and that should not be acceptable to any God-fearing person."

"It’s just another thing where the president thinks he can really go after someone with an ad hominem attack if they don’t agree with him," Pizzarelli added. "I don’t understand why our political leaders have not called him to task with cleaning up his language and [to] stop demeaning people. He’s the president of the United States. ... At least treat people respectfully."

Frank Maresca, a Catholic from Massapequa, condemned the post. Maresca voted for Trump and strongly supports the president, he said.

"Trump likes to get into these tit-for-tat types of things, and I think people who voted for him don’t like that," Maresca said. "There are certain things you just shouldn’t do."

Trump's posting of the image of himself as a Jesus-like figure was also inappropriate, Maresca said. 

"He shouldn’t have done that. He’s not Jesus, and no one should ever do that," Maresca said. "You can’t replace Jesus. There’s only one."

Others said they hoped for peace amid the extraordinary exchange between the president and the first American pontiff.

Stepping out of a 9:15 a.m. Mass at St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church in Patchogue on Monday, parishioner Patricia Costello said she hopes the tensions will settle down.

"I’m just praying for all of them that all their actions are inspired by the Holy Spirit," she said.

Several other parishioners leaving Mass did not want to speak about the issue at all.

Former U.S. Rep Peter King, a Catholic Republican from Seaford, spoke with Newsday outside an unrelated event in Manhattan.

"Trump has his own style," King said. ... "The pope is a tough guy from Illinois. He can handle it, too."

"I may have said it differently," King added. "But as a Catholic, I don't take it personally. That's the way Trump is. He’s said worse things about me, and others."

Flying aboard the papal airplane from Rome to Algiers on Monday for the start of an 11-day trip to Africa, Leo told journalists he was not afraid of the Trump administration after Trump lashed out at him.

"I have no fear of the Trump administration, or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do," Leo said.

When asked directly about Trump’s comments on Truth Social, the pontiff said: "It’s ironic — the name of the site itself. Say no more."

Trump, commenting Sunday night in a lengthy post on Truth Social, the social media platform he founded, accused Leo of being "weak on crime" and "catering to the Radical Left." Trump added that Leo should "focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician."

He also suggested in the post that Leo only got his position "because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump."

"If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican," Trump wrote, adding, "Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!"

In his subsequent comments to reporters, Trump remained highly critical, saying of Leo, "I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess," adding, "He’s a very liberal person."

Richard Koubek, a former public policy advocate at Catholic Charities on Long Island, said: "President Trump, who revels in the support of Christian nationalists, thinks Pope Leo is ‘too liberal.' That is quite ironic since Leo is simply proclaiming ancient Christian values that emphasize peace, care for the poor and marginalized. ... Does he think the Gospels are too liberal?"

Pizzarelli said the pope's comments opposing the U.S. attacks on Iran were in keeping with Catholic teachings. "As Catholic Christians we have always been against war," he said.

Mike Ferrara, a Catholic from Coram who voted for Trump, said he did not disagree with some of the comments Trump made about the pope, but the way he said it was unacceptable.

"I’m a Trump supporter. I like Trump. But the way he talks about the pope, I’m not really thrilled about that," Ferrara said. "The pope is the leader of our church. As a Catholic, I don’t want to see the pope get attacked."

As for the apparent AI image, he said: "You don’t emulate Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is Jesus Christ."

Bishop John Barres, head of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, did not directly address the dispute between the pope and the president but said in a statement that he and the diocese "join Pope Leo XIV in calling for peace, especially in the Middle East and in places where Christians are persecuted for their faith. We pray for and support our Holy Father in the mission of Christ's mercy and the proclamation of the Gospel—Blessed are the peacemakers."

Shortly after posting this comments, Trump shared a picture suggesting he had saintlike powers akin to those of Jesus Christ. Wearing a biblical-style robe, Trump is seen laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers, while a soldier, a nurse, a praying woman and a bearded man in a baseball cap all look on admiringly. The sky above is filled with eagles, an American flag and vaporous images.

"I did post it," Trump said on Monday. But he said it had to do with the Red Cross.

"It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better," Trump said.

Earlier in the day, on his plane, Leo tried to downplay things.

"The things I say are not meant as attacks on anyone," Leo told reporters.

"I do not look at my role as being political, a politician," the pontiff said. "I don’t want to get into a debate with him. I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing."

Tensions between the two leaders have been building in recent weeks as the United States continued its military attacks on Iran, which the pope has criticized.

Trump's comments came after Leo suggested over the weekend that a "delusion of omnipotence" is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. While it’s not unusual for popes and presidents to be at cross purposes, it’s exceedingly rare for the pope to directly criticize a U.S. leader — and Trump’s stinging response is equally uncommon, if not more so.

The Associated Press and Newsday's Matthew Chayes contributed to this story.