President Donald Trump said Thursday it's "very important" for Pope Leo to understand that Iran is a threat to the world, as tensions between the White House and the Vatican escalated over the ongoing war in the Middle East.

"The Pope can say what he wants, and I want him to say what he wants, but I can disagree," Trump told reporters outside the White House. "The Pope has to understand that this is the real world.”

Trump's remarks come amid a widening public clash with Pope Leo XIV, who has repeatedly criticized the U.S.-backed war with Iran and warned against using religion to justify military action. The pontiff has called for peace and diplomacy, saying the world risks being consumed by violence driven by power and self-interest.