April 23, 2026 · Updated April 23, 2026
Trump's public feud with Pope Leo XIV resonates deeply on Long Island, home to 1.5 million Catholics in the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
When President Trump called Pope Leo XIV "terrible on Foreign Policy" earlier this month, the fallout wasn't just a Washington story — it landed squarely in the living rooms, parishes, and dinner tables of Long Island, home to one of the largest Catholic populations in the country.
The conflict began after Pope Leo XIV — the first American-born pope — spoke out against U.S. military threats toward Iran. After Trump warned on April 7 that "a whole civilization will die," Leo responded that such threats were "truly unacceptable." Trump fired back on social media, calling the pope "terrible on Foreign Policy" and escalating a public feud that shocked Catholic leaders worldwide.
Pope Leo pushed back firmly, telling reporters he had "no fear of the Trump administration" and would continue speaking "loudly of the message of the Gospel."
The Diocese of Rockville Centre, which covers all of Nassau and Suffolk counties, serves approximately 1.5 million Catholics across more than 130 parishes. It is one of the largest Catholic dioceses in the United States, and the faithful here take their relationship with the Vatican seriously.
For many Long Island Catholics — including those who voted for Trump — the president's comments created an uncomfortable tension between political loyalty and religious identity. Even traditionally conservative Catholic advocacy groups voiced unease, with one leader describing his reaction as "sadness."
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement saying he was "disheartened" by Trump's comments. "Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician," Coakley said. "He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls."
Local parish leaders on Long Island have largely avoided direct political commentary from the pulpit but have echoed the broader message of supporting the pope's moral authority.
The feud comes at a politically sensitive moment. Trump's approval among white Catholics nationally has declined from 59% in February 2025 to 52% in January 2026 — before this latest controversy. On Long Island, where Catholic voters have historically been a swing demographic, the pope's popularity could further complicate the political calculus.
The situation also touches on the broader immigration debates playing out in Nassau County, where the pope's humanitarian stance contrasts sharply with administration policy.
