This statement represents an exceptionally rare public criticism of Trump by Meloni, who has built particularly close relations with the American president, showing how widespread dissatisfaction is in Italy with his attack on Pope Leo.
Trump sparked an uproar by calling Leo "horrible" in a lengthy tirade on Sunday. He then posted an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, further enraging Christians who saw it as blasphemy.
Pope Leo, the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, quickly responded, telling reporters he is "not afraid" of the Trump administration and promising to continue speaking out against the U.S.-led war on Iran, as well as in defense of migrants.
Meloni initially issued a statement of support for the Pope as he embarked on an ambitious visit to four African countries, but without directly mentioning Trump's attack.
Opposition politicians accused her of lacking the courage to directly confront Trump, prompting her to issue a second statement later in the day to clarify her position.
"I find President Trump's words towards the Holy Father unacceptable. The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and condemn all forms of war," she said.
Meloni was the only European leader to attend Trump's inauguration in 2025 and had hoped their friendship would strengthen her position at home and abroad.
However, Trump could become a political liability, as 66 percent of Italians have a negative opinion of the American leader. Pollsters suggest Meloni's ties to the White House may have been a factor in her defeat last month in a referendum on judicial reform.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who had also previously closely aligned himself with Trump, distanced himself from the American leader on Monday, showing how the European far-right is trying to move away from the MAGA orbit.
"Pope Leo is the spiritual leader of billions of Catholics, but beyond that, if there is one person who strives for peace, it is Pope Leo, and attacking him is neither wise nor useful," he said in a statement.
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and the spiritual leader of millions of Italian Catholics, making politicians of all stripes cautious when it comes to clashing with him.
"It has been centuries since such an open act of aggression towards the Roman Pope has been seen. He is, after all, a 'bridge builder,' unlike Trump, a destroyer of relationships and civilization. The only advantage is this: Trumps come and go, Popes remain," said former center-left Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, adding that it is important for both Catholics and non-believers to defend Leo.
This statement recalls the Italian saying "chi mangia papa crepa," which roughly means "who tries to swallow the Pope perishes," a proverb born from centuries of tension between the papacy and secular rulers.
"Trump made the mistake of the century, because 'chi mangia papa crepa' has proven true many times," said church historian Alberto Melloni, recalling the Italian royal family House of Savoy, which clashed with the Vatican in the 19th century but disappeared, while the papacy endured.
Antonio Spadaro, a Catholic priest and undersecretary of the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education, said Trump's attack reveals his weakness.
"If Leo were insignificant, he would not deserve any comment. Instead, he is invoked, named, challenged—a sign that his words carry weight. Here lies the moral strength of the Church. Not as a counter-power, but as a space where power is judged by a standard it does not control," Spadaro wrote on X.