Premier Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday reiterated her condemnation of US President Donald Trump’s attack on Pope Leo XIV following the American pontiff’s criticism of the United States and Israel’s war against Iran.

On Monday Meloni said the attack, in which Trump said Leo was weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy, was “unacceptable”.

When asked if Trump should apologize as she visited the Vinitaly wine fair in Verona, Meloni stated: “what I said is what I think – the statements about the pope were unacceptable.

“I have expressed, and continue to express, my solidarity with Pope Leo.

“I’ll go further: frankly, I wouldn’t feel comfortable in a society where religious leaders do what political leaders say” Meloni said he is not afraid to speak her mind to Trump, with whom she has friendly relations.

“When you are friends and when you have allies, especially if they are strategic ones, you also have to have the courage to say when you disagree, which is what I do every day, because I believe this is good for Europe, the United States, and the West in general,” she said.

“Italy and the United States have a relationship that has been going on for years.

“It’s not about a single government.

“We’re trying to do our best, given the context, considering the United States is our strategic, priority ally”.