Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has offered more support to Pope Leo, after the pontiff was sharply criticised by US President Donald Trump.

“I express my solidarity with Pope Leo, frankly I would not feel very comfortable in a society where religious leaders do what political leaders say,” Meloni said.

The Italian leader, who is seen as close to Trump, was speaking to reporters in Verona, on the sidelines of a conference on the wine industry.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-14/iran-war-live-updates-blockade-strait-of-hormuz-begins-trump/106559224#live-blog-post-284760