Fact Check: Did Pope Leo XIV say that Trump ‘chose the road of darkness, bitterness, and lies’?
WASHINGTON, DC: As fake quotes falsely attributed to Pope Leo XIV continue to spread online, one involving President Donald Trump has gone viral.
In late September 2025, social media users widely circulated a quote claiming that Pope Leo XIV condemned Trump, allegedly stating he “chose the road of darkness, bitterness, and lies” and was “not a savior.” The quote quickly gained traction, sparking political debate across various platforms.
What did Pope Leo XIV say about Trump?
Viral social media posts circulating across platforms like Instagram and Facebook feature an alleged quote attributed to Pope Leo XIV.
The widely shared claim states that the Pope said, "Trump is not a savior; he is a mirror-reflecting your hatred, anger, and fear. He could have walked the path of light and hope, but instead he chose the road of darkness, bitterness, and lies."
The quote continues, "His words mislead, his attacks divide, and his greed for power is tearing this nation apart. Look into your mirror and see what he is shaping you into. You can choose God, hope, and joy — not the evil Trump pushes. Remember: God does not preach hatred or fear. So why follow a man who does?"
One archived Threads post featuring the alleged quote received over 16,000 likes, more than 250 comments, and was shared over 2,000 times at the time of writing. The user added, "I have so much respect for this Pope. Apparently, he's not worried about being on the idiot's hit list! Thank you Pope Leo!"
Users across social media continued to share the unverified quote, further fueling its rapid spread online. The online posts also drew notable speculation from users in the comment sections. One user asked, "Is this true? Did the Pope really say this?" Another who believed the quote shared, "Thank you. I believe the Pope was trying to be apolitical but every all these word are true!"
One Facebook user shared, "None of this is true ! The Pope appears to not be a big fan of Trump, but he never said any of this!"
Fact Check: False as Pope Leo XIV has not shared such a statement about Trump
No evidence shows that Pope Leo XIV ever made the statement in question. Major news outlets did not report it, and had he actually made such remarks, reputable media would have covered them extensively.
A Google search confirmed that the quote appeared only on social media and never in any credible news source or official Vatican communication. The vague and emotionally charged language further suggests the quote may have been generated by artificial intelligence. Based on these findings, the claim is reported as falsely attributed.
In May 2025, the Vatican addressed the growing spread of fake quotes. It warned the public about false statements being shared online and reminded readers that all of Pope Leo XIV’s official speeches and writings are available at vatican.va.
The Vatican also debunked a previous fake quote that falsely claimed the Pope said: “You cannot follow both Christ and the cruelty of kings. A leader who mocks the weak, exalts himself, and preys on the innocent is not sent by God. He is sent to test you. And many are failing.”
This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online
