U.S cardinals reveal the real reason why the pope rejected Trump's invitation to join the United States 250th birthday celebrations
Pope Leo XIV’s refusal to attend the United States’ 250th birthday celebrations has become a flashpoint in the already tense relationship between the Vatican and the Trump administration.
Though Vice President JD Vance personally delivered the invitation in May 2025, the pope chose instead to spend July 4 on Lampedusa, the Italian island symbolic of migration and displacement.
According to U.S. cardinals interviewed on 60 Minutes, the decision was deliberate: Leo wanted to stand with the marginalized rather than participate in a high‑profile political event.
Cardinal Blase Cupich described it as a moral choice, while Cardinal Joseph Tobin drew a symbolic parallel to the Statue of Liberty, suggesting the pope views the migrant crisis as central to American identity.
The cardinals also highlighted how immigration policies in the U.S. have directly affected Catholic communities, noting a 30% drop in Spanish‑language mass attendance due to fear among immigrant parishioners.
Pope Leo, himself an immigrant who lived in Peru for decades, has consistently spoken out against what he sees as injustice, including attacks on Venezuelan migrants.
His stance has been openly critical of Trump’s hardline immigration policies and foreign policy decisions, particularly regarding Iran.
The refusal to attend the semiquincentennial underscores the widening rift between the Vatican and Washington.
Trump responded with sharp criticism, calling Pope Leo “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” both online and in remarks to reporters.
He even posted a religious‑style image portraying himself as a healer, which drew backlash from allies and opponents alike, with figures such as Marjorie Taylor Greene condemning it as “blasphemy” and “Antichrist Spirit.”
The episode illustrates how the pope’s symbolic choice to prioritize migrants over political spectacle has not only deepened tensions with the White House but also sparked broader debates about morality, leadership, and the role of religion in global politics.
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