The geopolitical backdrop to Pope Leo’s visit
Pope Leo and Sánchez have both drawn the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump over their opposition to the war in Iran.
Leo has repeatedly called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict and has been critical of any military escalation.
His comments prompted repeated attacks from Trump, who accused the Pontiff of being “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.”
Despite the criticism, Leo responded by saying he has “no fear of the Trump Administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to the Vatican amid the ongoing tensions, and emphasized their “shared commitment to promoting peace.”
Sánchez, meanwhile, is one of Europe’s leading critics on the conflict and has repeatedly described the war in Iran as “illegal.”
He notably denied the U.S. access to joint military facilities for offensive operations early on in the war and closed Spanish airspace to American aircraft involved in the conflict.
