Pope Leo XIV said U.S. President Donald Trump "does not fear chaos. He needs it. Martial law. Emergency powers. Democratic norms pushed aside. And then — no midterm elections … Destroying democracy to keep yourself out of prison — that is extreme."

Verdict: False

Summary

Pope Leo XIV said U.S. President Donald Trump "does not fear chaos. He needs it. Martial law. Emergency powers. Democratic norms pushed aside. And then — no midterm elections … Destroying democracy to keep yourself out of prison — that is extreme."

Verdicts (1 fact-checker)

  • Snopes.com: False — Did Pope Leo XIV say Trump is 'destroying democracy' to stay out of ... [source]

Observed propagation