Vice President JD Vance praised Pope Leo XIV’s recent statement downplaying the tensions between the Vatican and President Donald Trump after a week of back-and-forth sparring.
Leo said on Saturday that it is “not my interest at all” to debate Trump over issues like the Iran war, where the two hold sharply differing views. He stressed that an inaccurate media “narrative” has instead fueled the tension, citing his speech in Africa on Thursday where he warned the “world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants.” While those remarks came just after Trump’s rebukes, Leo clarified the speech was actually written two weeks ago, long before Trump’s criticism of him.
Vance responded to the pope’s remarks on Saturday night, saying he was “grateful” for the clarification.
“While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict — and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen — the reality is often much more complicated,” Vance posted on X. “Pope Leo preaches the gospel, as he should, and that will inevitably mean he offers his opinions on the moral issues of the day. The President — and the entire administration — work to apply those moral principles in a messy world.”
“He will be in our prayers, and I hope that we’ll be in his,” he concluded.
Vance’s comments come after Trump publicly bashed Leo as “WEAK on Crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy.”
The remarks, as well as a now-deleted post depicting Trump as Jesus Christ, led to backlash from both sides of the aisle.
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Vance, a Catholic, rushed to Trump’s side, even warning Leo to “be careful” when discussing theology.
The tensions have simmered for now. In dismissing them on Saturday, Leo, who is on an 11-day trip in Africa, vowed to continue to preach the gospel.
