Sharon Keogan: Trump’s Attack on Pope Leo Threatens Civilisation
Sharon Keogan responds to recent remarks by President of the United States Donald Trump directed at Pope Leo, arguing that such rhetoric inflicts diplomatic and moral damage. She condemns calls for the destruction of Iran's civilisation while distinguishing that from legitimate opposition to the Iranian regime, and she places her support with Pope Leo and Giorgia Meloni
Sharon Keogan argues that language used by world leaders has real consequences: "When those words dismiss, denigrate or threaten entire peoples, religion or institutions, they do real damage, not just diplomatically, but morally." She warns that crude attacks on religious figures erode shared moral ground.
Keogan makes clear she is no admirer of the Iranian regime, calling it criminal and deserving to be challenged and ultimately dismantled. She insists, however, that "to call for the destruction of the Iran's whole civilisation is something altogether different," and stresses the distinction between opposing a regime and attacking a people or their culture.
Keogan highlights the Catholic Church's historical role in shaping European civilisation through art, learning and the preservation of classical thought. She cautions that attacking the Pope in a crude manner is effectively an attack on a shared civilisational inheritance.
She places on the record her support for Pope Leo and for Giorgia Meloni and other leaders who stood by him, praising their dignity. Keogan concludes by expressing deep disappointment in President Trump for the tone and content of his remarks.
Why words matter
Sharon Keogan argues that language used by world leaders has real consequences: "When those words dismiss, denigrate or threaten entire peoples, religion or institutions, they do real damage, not just diplomatically, but morally." She warns that crude attacks on religious figures erode shared moral ground.
On Iran and legitimate opposition
Keogan makes clear she is no admirer of the Iranian regime, calling it criminal and deserving to be challenged and ultimately dismantled. She insists, however, that "to call for the destruction of the Iran's whole civilisation is something altogether different," and stresses the distinction between opposing a regime and attacking a people or their culture.
The Catholic Church and European civilisation
Keogan highlights the Catholic Church's historical role in shaping European civilisation through art, learning and the preservation of classical thought. She cautions that attacking the Pope in a crude manner is effectively an attack on a shared civilisational inheritance.
Support and disappointment
She places on the record her support for Pope Leo and for Giorgia Meloni and other leaders who stood by him, praising their dignity. Keogan concludes by expressing deep disappointment in President Trump for the tone and content of his remarks.
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Transcript
Today I wish to speak about the recent comments made by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, directed at Pope Leo. In an increasingly volatile global moment, words spoken by leaders matter. When those words dismiss, denigrate or threaten entire peoples, religion or institutions, they do real damage, not just diplomatically, but morally. As some of you may know, it would be an understatement to say that I am no admirer of the Iranian regime. It is a criminal regime and it deserves to be challenged, opposed and ultimately dismantled. But to call for the destruction of the Iran's whole civilisation is something altogether different. These are callous and small-minded words. The Iranian people themselves and their beautiful millennia-old civilisation deserve freedom, dignity and respect. We must always be clear about this distinction. The same applies to the Catholic Church. Whatever one's personal belief or whatever criticisms may be made, it is undeniable historical fact that the Church is a millennia-old pillar of European civilisation. Through its art and architecture, through the preservation and development of learning during Europe's darkest centuries and through the safeguarding and renewal of classical Greek and Roman philosophy, in which our own Irish saints and scholars played a key role, the Catholic Church helped shape the civilisation we inhabit today. Without it, European civilisation as we know it would not be recognisable today. To attack the Pope in such a crude and unserious manner is not just an attack on a religious leader, itself unacceptable when not done in a considered manner, but on our shared civilisation inheritance. Finally, I want to place on the record my support for Pope Leo and also for Giorgio Maloney and other leaders who have stood by him. They have acted with dignity. As for President Trump, I can only say that I am deeply disappointed. Thank you.