The Latin Patriarchal Vicar in Jerusalem, Bishop William Shomali, described on Monday US President Donald Trump's comparison of himself to Jesus Christ as "offensive and unacceptable," stressing that Trump's behavior in this war (on Iran) violated the rules of the Christian religion.
On Sunday, Trump launched a fierce attack on Pope Leo XIV for criticizing the US-Israeli war on Iran, and posted a picture of himself as Jesus Christ.
Bishop Shomali said, “Jesus Christ is a model for us to emulate, but we should emulate his humility, spirit of service and self-sacrifice, not his love of domination, sovereignty and marginalizing people,” in reference to Trump.
He added: “Therefore, the problem is not that (Trump) is trying to imitate Jesus Christ, but rather trying to portray himself as a superhuman and great person, and this is not permissible and is rejected.”
He stressed that what Trump did was "offensive".
He added: “This is of course an insult (…) because any sane person with sound logic would not accept the way Trump likened himself to Jesus Christ.”
He continued: “Imitation and emulation are about true virtues, not boasting. He (Trump) boasted and did not try to emulate the humility, spirit of service, and self-sacrifice known about Jesus Christ.”
Bishop Shomali went on to say: “We are frankly not satisfied with this behavior in any way, shape, or form, and in his (Trump’s) recent behavior in this war (on Iran) he violated the basic rules of the Christian religion.”
He added that Trump “claims to be a Christian, but unfortunately he is violating the first principles of the Christian faith, which is: love your neighbor as yourself.”
Bishop Shomali pointed to the Vatican and the Church's opposition to the war.
He said that “His Holiness the Pope (Pope Leo XIV) criticized him (Trump), and most of America’s Catholic bishops are not in favor of the current war in any way, and said that it is not America’s war, but rather that America was dragged into it.”
The Trump administration faces accusations both within and outside the United States of waging this war on behalf of Israel, under the incitement of its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu has been wanted since 2024 to appear before the International Criminal Court for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during a genocidal war that Israel began with American support in 2023.
Tags:
america
