VATICAN CITY: Since he was anointed the first U.S. leader of the global Catholic Church ten months ago, Pope Leo has mostly stayed away from commenting about his home country and never once mentioned President Donald Trump publicly. 

But that ended on March 31.

In recent weeks, the pope has become a strong critic of the war in Iran. On March 31, he publicly mentioned Trump for the first time and directly asked him to stop the growing conflict.

Experts say this shows a clear change in his tone and approach. It suggests the pope wants to act as a balance to Trump and his foreign policy on the global stage.

Massimo Faggioli, an Italian scholar who closely follows the Vatican, said the pope likely does not want people to think he is being lenient toward Trump just because he is American.

The pope, known for speaking carefully, asked Trump to find a way out of the war, using a common American phrase so the message would be easily understood. Faggioli said this choice of words was deliberate.

Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, a close supporter of the pope, said he is continuing the tradition of past popes who urged leaders to avoid war. What is different now, he said, is that the message is being delivered in a style familiar to Americans and English-speaking audiences.

Two days before directly addressing Trump, the pope made unusually strong remarks, saying God does not accept the prayers of leaders who start wars and have "blood on their hands."

Some conservative Catholic commentators believed these remarks were aimed at U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has used Christian language to justify U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. The comments also prompted one of the first direct responses from the Trump administration.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said there is nothing wrong with leaders asking Americans to pray for their military.

Marie Dennis, a former leader of the Catholic peace group Pax Christi, said the pope's recent remarks show deep sadness over ongoing violence and are meant to reach people who are tired of war and want strong leadership for peace.

Earlier, the pope had also criticized Trump's strict immigration policies, though he did not mention him by name. These remarks drew criticism from conservative Catholics.

In December, the pope made major changes in U.S. Catholic leadership by removing Cardinal Timothy Dolan as archbishop of New York and replacing him with Archbishop Ronald Hicks from Illinois.

The pope has been increasing his criticism of the war in Iran over the past few weeks. On March 13, he said Christian leaders who start wars should reflect on their actions and consider whether they follow Jesus' teachings. On March 23, he said airstrikes are indiscriminate and should be banned.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, a senior Vatican official, said the pope's voice carries global importance because he speaks for the common good, especially for vulnerable people. He added that the pope's moral authority makes people believe that peace is still possible.

On April 2, the pope began four days of Vatican events leading up to Easter Sunday, when he will deliver a special message and blessing from St. Peter's Basilica. This speech is closely watched and is often used to make important global appeals.