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If you think the clash between Pope Leo XIV and President Donald Trump is just a war of words that will pass when the news cycle moves on, you are most likely mistaken.

Their public spat is part of a larger battle that’s been raging behind the scenes for years — one that may accelerate if the war with Iran is prolonged.

It’s also a conflict between two competing brands of Christianity, led by two distinctive versions of Christ: the historical Jesus vs. the “MAGA Jesus.”