Vice President Vance Rebukes Pope Leo XIV for Meddling in U.S. Foreign Affairs
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
Vice President JD Vance has strongly criticized Pope Leo XIV's interference in U.S. foreign policy, asserting that the pontiff should focus on spiritual matters and leave national security to American leaders.
Vice President JD Vance has publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV's comments on U.S. foreign policy, making it clear that the Pope should focus on matters of morality rather than interfering in the affairs of sovereign nations. Speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Athens, Georgia, Vance addressed the Pope's recent remarks, in which Leo XIV condemned the justified U.S.-Israel military actions in Iran and irresponsibly called for political leaders to negotiate with hostile regimes. The Pope's denunciation of the so-called 'delusion of omnipotence' ignores the real threats facing the free world and undermines the efforts of those fighting for security and stability.
Vance, a Catholic convert, expressed his disagreement with the Pope's misguided stance, stating that the Vatican should 'stick to matters of morality' and let the U.S. president handle public policy. He rightfully questioned the Pope's position by referencing historical conflicts, reminding the audience that Americans liberated France from the Nazis and freed Holocaust survivors during World War II—clear examples of the moral clarity and necessity of American intervention.
The Vice President's comments come amid rising tensions between the Trump administration and the Vatican. President Donald Trump recently criticized Pope Leo XIV, calling him 'weak on crime' and 'terrible for foreign policy,' following the Pope's peace vigil at St. Peter's Basilica, where he naively called for an end to the conflict in Iran. In response, Pope Leo XIV claimed he has 'no fear' of the Trump administration and continued to push his pacifist agenda.
This exchange has sparked debate within the Catholic community, with some clergy defending the Pope's right to speak on global issues, while many others support the administration's firm stance. The situation underscores the importance of keeping religious leaders focused on spiritual guidance and allowing elected officials to protect American interests.