1. United States
2. La.
3. Letter

You must publicly condemn the Pentagon's threatening meeting with Cardinal Christophe Pierre and demand accountability for Under Secretary Elbridge C that the U.S. has the military power to do "whatever it wants" and that Pope Leo "better take its side" is not diplomacy. It's intimidation of a religious leader. Invoking the Avignon Papacy, when France used military force to control the Pope, wasn't some historical reference. It was a threat. This happened because Pope Leo criticized Trump's policies on immigration and Iran, which is exactly the kind of moral leadership we need from religious figures. Whether you agree with the Pope's positions or not, using Pentagon officials to pressure the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics crosses a line that should alarm every American who values religious freedom. The Defense Department claims the meeting was "respectful and reasonable," but multiple Vatican officials briefed on it tell a different story. Pope Leo is an American citizen exercising his right to speak on matters of conscience. He deserves an apology, not threats. Make clear that this administration does not speak for Congress and that intimidating religious leaders is unacceptable.