Even Catholic Trump supporters feel conflicted over the president’s tiff with the pope | CNN

A peace- and faith-focused sermon delivered during Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City did little to clear the minds of some parishioners who walked out of church saying they remained distraught over the extraordinary conflict that erupted between Pope Leo and President Trump a week ago. Some Catholic supporters of the president said they took issue with Trump’s fiery comments about Pope Leo, the first American pontiff. In the 2024 presidential election, Catholic voters broke for President Donald Trump, with nearly 6 in 10 voting to reelect the president, according to a CNN exit poll. “I like Donald a lot, but he needs to calm down,” said Lola Reese after attending Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s. Growing up Catholic in New Orleans taught her the importance of the separation of church and state, Reese said. The president’s back-and-forth with the pope might hurt his relationship with his supporters, she said. She called for the president to “back off and kind of calm down his little bitty, tiny streak of a little meanness here and there.” Reese’s sentiment was shared by several churchgoers, including those who said they had voted for the president