Pope Leo’s target is bigger than Trump. He’s rebuking the ‘MAGA Jesus’

(John Blake – CNN) If you think the clash between Pope Leo XIV and President Donald Trump is just a war of words that will pass when the news cycle moves on, you are most likely mistaken. Their public spat is part of a larger battle that’s been raging behind the scenes for years — one that may accelerate if the war with Iran is prolonged. It’s also a conflict between two competing brands of Christianity, led by two distinctive versions of Christ: the historical Jesus vs. the “MAGA Jesus”. Pope Leo is not simply challenging Trump. He’s critiquing MAGA Jesus, the version of Jesus some of the president’s followers have often invoked in recent years. – Pope Leo’s target is bigger than Trump. He’s rebuking the ‘MAGA Jesus’ | CNN Politics