Robert Jeffress, the senior pastor of First Baptist Church and a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, said Saturday that the president shows a stronger grasp of the Bible than Pope Leo XIV, especially regarding the role of government in confronting evil.
Jeffress made the remarks on Fox News amid an ongoing public clash between Trump and the pope over the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran.
The pastor described the pope as a sincere man but “sincerely wrong” on the issue.
“The pope ought to know, and I think he does know, God created both the church and government for two distinct purposes,” Jeffress said. “The role of the church is to point people to faith in Jesus Christ, but the role of government is to protect citizens from evil-doers.”
Jeffress, who leads one of the largest Southern Baptist congregations in the country, has stood by Trump for years.
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He appeared at rallies, joined his faith advisory groups, and defended himself through controversies. On Saturday, May 9, he added a personal note: He visited the Oval Office three days after the launch of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli strikes that began Feb. 28.
“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. “And I’m glad the president hasn’t backed down at all.”
The friction started when Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, spoke out against the war in Iran.
He issued statements urging peace, warning that “God does not bless any conflict,” and criticizing military action as unlikely to bring lasting freedom. He called for dialogue instead of bombs.
Trump fired back sharply and labeled the pope “weak on crime” and accused him of catering to the radical left.
The exchange escalated as the operation targeted Iranian missile capabilities, naval forces, and leadership tied to the regime.
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Jeffress called the disagreement a simple misunderstanding of the Bible. He cited verses that give the government the duty to wield the sword against threats, a mission distinct from the church’s mission of mercy and evangelism. That’s a difference Trump has, and the pope does not, he said.
Jeffress’ words give a snapshot of how the U.S.-Iran conflict has brought divisions among Christian believers. For many evangelicals, the strikes are needed to neutralize a dangerous regime and prevent nuclear threats.
Catholic leaders and the pope have been emphasizing just war principles, the protection of civilians, and the preference for diplomacy.
Operation Epic Fury ran for roughly five weeks before officials declared that its main military objectives had been met.
Jeffress Political Loyalties
Since 2026, Jeffress has never concealed his political loyalties. He has backed Trump, even as many other evangelical leaders have been hesitant.
He has praised Trump’s actions on religious freedom, judicial appointments, and backing for Israel. His politics have drawn criticism for casting him as a political operative in a pulpit. Supporters say he is simply applying biblical truth to the public arena.
In the Fox News appearance, Jeffress did not dwell on the human cost of the Iran operation or questions about civilian casualties.
He focused instead on the clear line he sees between the church’s and the state’s responsibilities. Government, he argued, must act decisively when evil threatens its people.
The pope has continued to speak about peace, the limits of violence, and the moral weight of decisions about war.
Trump, for his part, has shown no sign of softening. He and his team continue to defend the operation as a success that removed key threats from a hostile regime.
