HAS the Catholic Church’s first American pope been sufficiently outspoken against America’s war on Iran?

Described as mild-mannered and diplomatic, Pope Leo XIV has been praised for condemning war and praying for peace.

However, he appears to have mentioned the US leader by name only once, when he said he hoped the President was looking for an off-ramp (a motorway slip road) to end the war.

So, should the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics openly condemn Trump and his support for Israel’s attacks on Iran and Lebanon?

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Or is Vatican diplomacy and restrained language the best way to address what a deranged US administration regards as a holy war against Islam?

The answer appears to be that since Trump neither appreciates nor understands diplomacy, it might be helpful for the pope to use language which Trump – and the American public - understand.

For example, he said that the threat to end Iran’s civilisation was “unacceptable” – hardly the most forceful condemnation.

While a Church leader may not wish to become embroiled in international politics, Trump’s actions are effectively about morality. If the pontiff cannot........

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