{
    "title": "Is the Pope Catholic?",
    "modified_at": "2026-04-14 18:33:58",
    "published_at": "2026-04-14 18:33:00",
    "url": "https://special-guests.prezly.com/is-the-pope-catholic",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/MbCd",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "Radical Islamic Regime Endorses the Pontiff, Siding against Trump",
    "slug": "is-the-pope-catholic",
    "body": "<p><a href=\"https://specialguests.com/pope-catholic-iran-regime-supports-over-trump/\">https://specialguests.com/pope-catholic-iran-regime-supports-over-trump/</a></p><p>At first glance, it feels almost impossible: the Islamic Republic of Iran&mdash;arguably the most repressive and hardline Islamist regime in modern history&mdash;publicly siding with the Pope against President Donald Trump.</p><p> </p><p>But that&rsquo;s exactly what just happened. <strong>Dr. Che Ahn, a candidate for Governor of California</strong>, says this is either a poor reflection on Islam or the Pope. Or, is this simply nothing more than political posturing on the part of the Iranian Regime in a time of war? </p><p> </p><p><a href=\"https://che4ca.com/\"><strong>Ch&eacute; Ahn California Governor | Official Campaign Website</strong></a></p><p> </p><p><a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/Romans-911-Time-Sound-Alarm/dp/1951492838/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IZCTUNLUMDK7&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WTHi3FU9aLjFWSGZCumIERLpJbklp9kHgZ8e_PINWK0.Y_7L_Jz2MKQJ8nGWigpRpkAeI8U0764ANrnY2T7JIBU&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=grant+berry+romans+911&amp;qid=1773405456&amp;sprefix=grant+berry+romans+91%2Caps%2C132&amp;sr=8-1\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ROMANS 911</strong></a></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><a href=\"https://reconnectingministries.org/ff-ebook/\"><strong>Click here to download the illuminating new booklet Foundations for the Foundation</strong></a></p><p> </p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>Iran defends Pope after Trump controversy</span></li></ul><p> </p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>AI &ldquo;Christ image&rdquo; sparks blasphemy backlash</span></li></ul><p> </p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>Vatican&ndash;Trump rift deepens over global conflict</span></li></ul><p> </p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>Tehran exploits divide for propaganda advantage</span></li></ul><p> </p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>Religious language increasingly weaponized in geopolitics</span></li></ul><p> </p><p>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently came to the defense of Pope Leo XIV after Trump criticized the pontiff and circulated an AI-generated image portraying himself in a Christ-like form&mdash;an act that drew accusations of blasphemy and desecration. Pezeshkian condemned the image outright, declaring that &ldquo;the desecration of Jesus is not acceptable,&rdquo; framing the controversy as a matter of religious respect and moral boundaries.</p><p> </p><p>This unlikely alignment isn&rsquo;t about shared theology&mdash;it&rsquo;s about strategy.</p><p> </p><p>The backdrop to this clash is a growing divide between Trump and the Vatican over global conflict, particularly tensions involving Iran and Israel. Pope Leo has positioned himself as a moral critic of escalating war, warning against what he describes as dangerous nationalism and the misuse of religious justification for violence. Trump, by contrast, has taken a far more hardline stance, defending aggressive policies and criticizing the Pope as out of touch with geopolitical realities.</p><p> </p><p>Into that divide steps Tehran.</p><p> </p><p>By backing the Pope, Iran accomplishes several strategic goals at once. It casts itself as a defender of religious sanctity&mdash;despite its own long record of repressing religious minorities. It exploits fractures within the West, highlighting discord between political and spiritual leadership. And perhaps most effectively, it reframes the narrative: not Iran versus the world, but Trump versus moral authority.</p><p> </p><p>This is where Pastor Che Ahn offers unique and essential insight.</p><p> </p><p>Ahn can speak to the deeper spiritual and cultural implications of this moment: how authoritarian regimes co-opt religious language for political gain, why global faith leaders are increasingly at odds with nationalist movements, and what it signals when a regime known for persecuting Christians suddenly invokes Jesus in defense of the papacy.</p><p> </p><p>When Tehran appears more aligned with the Vatican than Washington does, it&rsquo;s not a coincidence&mdash;it&rsquo;s a calculated move with profound implications.</p><p> </p><p>And it&rsquo;s a story that demands closer scrutiny.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Relevant Article(s)</strong></p><p><a href=\"https://www.latestly.com/world/desecration-of-jesus-is-not-acceptable-iran-president-masoud-pezeshkian-backs-pope-leo-amid-donald-trump-row-7392035.html\"><strong>&lsquo;Desecration of Jesus Is Not Acceptable&rsquo;: Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian Backs Pope Leo Amid Donald Trump Row | \ud83c\udf0e LatestLY</strong></a></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><a href=\"https://reconnectingministries.org/ff-ebook/#ff-ebook/1/\"><strong>Foundations Ebook - Reconnecting Ministries</strong></a></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>OPTIONAL Q&amp;A:</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><ol class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--numbered release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>How should Americans interpret Iran&mdash;one of the world&rsquo;s most repressive Islamic regimes&mdash;suddenly invoking Jesus to defend the Pope?</span></li><li><span>What does it reveal about global power dynamics when Tehran positions itself as a defender of Christian sanctity?</span></li><li><span>Is this truly about religious respect, or is Iran exploiting a cultural and political divide between President Trump and the Vatican?</span></li><li><span>What is driving the growing rift between Pope Leo XIV and President Trump, and why has it become so public?</span></li><li><span>How are faith leaders around the world increasingly clashing with nationalist political movements?</span></li><li><span>What are the spiritual implications of political figures using religious imagery, such as AI-generated depictions of Christ?</span></li><li><span>Why would a regime known for persecuting Christians suddenly align itself&mdash;at least rhetorically&mdash;with the head of the Catholic Church?</span></li><li><span>Does this moment signal a broader strategy by adversarial regimes to weaponize religion in the global information war?</span></li></ol><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>ABOUT DR. CHE AHN&hellip;</strong></p><p>Che Ahn is a pastor, national faith leader, and Republican candidate for governor of California. He gained national attention after successfully challenging California&rsquo;s COVID-era restrictions on churches, securing a legal victory that reinforced protections for religious freedom. He is widely recognized for his leadership, advocacy, and commitment to constitutional principles.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>ABOUT GRANT BERRY&hellip;</strong></p><p>Grant was born in London, England. He is a student of Scripture and a close follower of geopolitics. Berry is the founder of Reconnecting Ministries and Producer of The Romans 911 Project that builds bridges of understanding between Israel and the nations.</p><p> </p><p>Grant has written five books, The New Covenant Prophecy, The Ezekiel Generation, Romans 911 &ndash; Time to Sound the Alarm!, Romans 911 Study Guide, and The Reconnection Mandate. \u200b He also writes for Charisma Magazine and sits on the board of multiple organizations.</p><p> </p><p>Grant led missions teams to the former Soviet Union from 1993-1997.</p><p> </p><p>As a marketplace leader, Grant was also an entrepreneur in the Cosmetic industry for more than 30 years.</p><p> </p><p>Grant is married to Hali Berry, and they have five children.</p><p> </p><p><strong>TO SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW, CALL OR TEXT 512-966-0983 OR EMAIL </strong><a href=\"mailto:BOOKINGS@SPECIALGUESTS.COM\"><strong>BOOKINGS@SPECIALGUESTS.COM</strong></a><strong> </strong></p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n    >\n        <a class=\"release-content-image__link\"\n           id=\"image-8272aef3-903b-430f-bc7d-c23078a2130c\"\n           href=\"https://specialguests.com/guests-topics/\"\n           data-id=\"8272aef3-903b-430f-bc7d-c23078a2130c\"\n           data-track=\"Story Image View\"\n           data-placement=\"content\"\n                            target=\"_blank\"\n                rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n                       style=\"width: 13.89%\"\n        >\n            <img\n                class=\"release-content-image__image\"\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8272aef3-903b-430f-bc7d-c23078a2130c/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"\"\n                            >\n        </a>\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\"></figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>",
    "header": {
        "large": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/f3f3929e-8ece-4764-a28e-8aeff2557a20/-/preview/1200x1200/-/format/auto/",
        "release": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/f3f3929e-8ece-4764-a28e-8aeff2557a20/-/preview/1200x1200/-/format/auto/"
    },
    "images": [
        {
            "caption": "",
            "original": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8272aef3-903b-430f-bc7d-c23078a2130c/",
            "medium": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8272aef3-903b-430f-bc7d-c23078a2130c/-/preview/500x500/-/format/auto/",
            "small": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8272aef3-903b-430f-bc7d-c23078a2130c/-/preview/200x200/-/format/auto/",
            "thumbnail": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8272aef3-903b-430f-bc7d-c23078a2130c/-/preview/100x100/-/format/auto/",
            "square": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8272aef3-903b-430f-bc7d-c23078a2130c/-/scale_crop/200x200/center/-/format/auto/",
            "squaresmall": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8272aef3-903b-430f-bc7d-c23078a2130c/-/scale_crop/58x58/center/-/format/auto/"
        }
    ],
    "author": {
        "first_name": "Jerry",
        "last_name": "McGlothlin"
    },
    "format_version": 5
}