President Donald Trump escalated his public feud with Pope Leo XIV, suggesting the first American-born pontiff’s opposition to the U.S. conflict with Iran is putting Catholics in danger.

During a Monday appearance with conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt, Trump was discussing whether he would raise the case of imprisoned Hong Kong journalist Jimmy Lai with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a planned visit to Beijing later this month. Trump said he would, and Hewitt added, “I wish the Pope would.”

“Well, the Pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “And I don’t think that’s very good. I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people. But I guess if it’s up to the Pope … he thinks it’s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

Leo has been outspoken against the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation targeting Iran’s political leadership and military infrastructure. He has never publicly stated he wants the regime to have a nuclear weapon.

“For years, the Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt on that point,” the Pope said Tuesday night, according to Vatican News. “I simply hope to be listened to because of the value of the word of God.”

Leo, approaching the first anniversary of his election to the papacy, stressed that he has spoken clearly “from the first moment I was elected, and now we are close to the anniversary. I said: ‘Peace be with you.’”

Trump has labeled the Pope “weak” on crime and “terrible” on foreign policy and accused him of “catering to the radical left.” Since last fall, the Pope and senior U.S. Catholic clergy have criticized the administration over its immigration enforcement efforts and use of force abroad.

Trump’s comments came ahead of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to the Vatican on Thursday. Rubio, a Catholic, met Leo last year after attending his inaugural Mass.

Rubio is expected to seek to reduce tensions and kick-start a more productive dialogue on Iran. He is also expected to discuss Cuba, where the administration’s oil blockade and sanctions have increased pressure on the island’s Communist government.

Regarding Rubio’s visit, Leo expressed hope it would be “a good dialogue,” approached “with trust and openness” so as “to understand one another well,” according to Vatican News.

“I think the issues he is coming for are not today’s issues. We shall see,” the Pope added, referring to Trump’s comments.

Brian Burch, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, was asked Tuesday whether Rubio was seeking to repair Trump’s relationship with Leo.

“I don’t accept the idea that somehow there’s some deep rift,” Burch said, according to Reuters.

He added that Rubio is coming so that the U.S. and the Vatican can “better understand each other, and to work through, if there are differences, certainly to talk through that.”