First Baptist Dallas senior pastor Robert Jeffress says Pope Leo XIV is wrong in his criticism of U.S. military action against Iran.
The Dallas pastor voiced strong support for the Trump administration’s decision to launch Operation Epic Fury, which targeted Iran’s missile systems, security infrastructure and nuclear capabilities earlier this year.
Jeffress told viewers he met with President Donald Trump and other faith leaders in the Oval Office just days after the conflict began. He recounted Trump explaining that Iran was weeks away from obtaining a weapon capable of destroying Israel, much of the Middle East and potentially harming the United States.
“The great irony is it looks like President Trump has a better understanding of what the Bible teaches about the role of government than the pope has,” Jeffress said.
Jeffress commended the president for fulfilling what he called his “God-given” responsibility to protect the nation, arguing that government’s biblical role — citing Romans 13 — is to shield citizens from evildoers.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff, has repeatedly expressed opposition to the war. He has stated that “God does not bless any conflict” and urged dialogue over violence.
The remarks highlight ongoing differences between some evangelical leaders and the Vatican over the U.S. role in the Iran conflict. Jeffress, a longtime Trump supporter and Fox News contributor, drew a clear line between the missions of church and state: the church points people to faith in Jesus Christ, while government protects against threats.
The comments come as tensions over the Iran situation continue to draw reaction from religious and political figures nationwide.
