Trump's rift with Pope is playing out in public - it's costing him valuable support

Former President Donald Trump is facing public criticism from some of his loyal, conservative Catholic allies following his attack on Pope Leo and the sharing of an AI-generated image depicting him as a Christ-like figure. This broad backlash, particularly in the last 48 hours, marks a significant shift, especially among those who have been staunch supporters. Bishop Joseph Strickland, who previously participated in prayer events for Trump and delivered keynote speeches at conservative conferences, has publicly broken with the administration.Bishop Strickland stated that he does not believe the ongoing Iran war meets the criteria of a "just war" and expressed his solidarity with the Holy Father's call for peace. He emphasized that the scale of death and suffering among innocent civilians means the conflict cannot be viewed as just. Strickland also challenged the White House's handling of the war, encouraging other Catholics to question the use of religion to justify what he termed "immoral behavior," particularly the dropping of bombs.The uproar over Trump's social media attack on Pope Leo, whom he described as too liberal and "weak on crime," alongside the AI image, has crystallized a shift in opinion among many Catholic conservatives since the war began six weeks ago. This development carries political perils for Trump, given his increased support among this demographic in the 2024 election, though Pew Research Center data indicates a complex picture with splits along racial and party lines among American Catholics.