Donald Trump went after Pope Leo XIV - calling him weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy. The Pope had previously criticized American sanctions on Iran as imprudent and called for serious reflection on the treatment of migrants.

Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy, Trump posted, adding that the pontiff should mind his own business and do his job as Pope. The American president pushed further - claiming that without his presidency, Leo would never have had a chance of becoming pope.

Trump also invoked the pope's brother, Luis, claiming he is totally aligned with his political movement. When the president of the United States starts ranking members of the papal family by political loyalty, the line between politics and farce disappears entirely.

Italian Prime Minister Meloni - Trump's ally - called the criticism inappropriate. American bishops defended the pope: He is the Vicar of Christ. Poland's presidential adviser said Trump had hurt the feelings and insulted all Catholics.

When the most powerful man on the planet picks a public fight with the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics, that is not a statement - it is a geopolitical incident. And the reactions show that even allies have a line they will not cross.