Pop star Madonna has sparked online debate after publicly criticizing Pope Leo XIV’s comments about the Church’s mission, describing his stance as “disappointing” in a viral Instagram comment.

Her remarks came in response to a Catholic News Agency (CNA) Instagram post quoting the Pope’s recent interview with Crux, in which he said: “I don’t see my primary role as trying to be the solver of the world’s problems… My priority is the gospel, not the world’s problems.”

Madonna replied: “The whole point of teaching and learning the gospel is to inspire people to love one another and make the world a better place. Not just with words but with actions, which is exactly what Jesus did. I am truly disappointed by this.”

Her comment quickly gained traction, receiving more than 1,500 likes and triggering a wave of responses.

Supporters praised her for defending the social mission of Christianity, while others pushed back. One user responded: “That’s literally the point. By teaching the gospel, you change the world.”

Madonna, who was raised Catholic and often infuses her music with religious imagery, has a long history of challenging Church authorities.

Her clash with Pope Leo is the latest in a series of public remarks about faith, including a 2022 message to Pope Francis requesting a meeting, where she tweeted: “Hello @Pontifex Francis, I’m a good Catholic. I Swear! I mean I don’t Swear! It’s been a few decades since my last confession. Would it be possible to meet up one day to discuss some important matters?”

Despite her criticisms, Madonna has never renounced her Catholic roots. The Catholic Herald reported her saying: “I always feel some kind of inexplicable connection with Catholicism. It kind of shows up in all my work, as you may have noticed.”