The Pope has pushed back on President Donald Trump’s criticism of him over the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. Leo XIV told reporters on Monday that the Vatican’s appeals for peace and reconciliation are rooted in the Gospel, and that he doesn’t fear the Trump administration. The comments came as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz appeared to have come to a halt, an intelligence firm said, and oil prices resumed their climb after Trump announced on social media that the United States would blockade the waterway. U.S. Central Command has clarified the blockade would involve all Iranian ports but allow ships traveling between non-Iranian ports to transit the strait. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has stated the strait remains under Iran’s “full control” and is open for non-military vessels.
