JD Vance Faces Pope Leo XIV's Criticism, Yet Stays Away from Political Spats
Vance declines to participate in the Pope's "political maneuverings"
It's no secret that the newly-elected Pope has been vocal about his political views. And it looks like he's not afraid to take shots at the US government’s policies either. Yet, Vice President JD Vance seems intent on steering clear of the political mudslinging directed towards Pope Leo XIV.
When questioned about his stance on the Pontiff's comments on his radio show, Vance stated, "I'm trying not to politicize the Pope. I'm sure he'll say things I love, things I disagree with, but I'll keep praying for him and the Church, no matter what."
Pope Leo XIV, previously known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, has criticized Vance's political stance before. A comment he shared in February read, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus does not ask us to prioritize our love for others." He also weighed in on the deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García, a migrant with protected status in the US.
The Church above Politics
According to Vance, the Church is a higher entity than politics. Unlike several figures from the MAGA camp, Vance refused to engage with the criticism levied against him and US policies. Right-wing influencer Laura Loomer, for instance, labeled the new Pope a "total Marxist" shortly after his election, stating, "Just another Marxist puppet in the Vatican." Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon deemed Leo XIV "the worst choice for MAGA Catholics."
Vance argued that the Church's core mission is to save souls and spread the Gospel, not to entangle itself in the realm of politics. "Public politics may touch the Church from time to time, like any human institution," said the Trump VP, "but that's not really what it's about." According to Vance, most people are not concerned about the Pope's political affiliations.
Upon the Pope's election, Vance offered his congratulations, stating, "Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I'm sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful tenure as head of the Church." Vance, a former Protestant who converted to Catholicism in 2019, added, "May God bless him."
Sources: ntv.de, lme
- Political Views
- Catholic Church
- J.D. Vance
- Newly-Elected Pope Leo XIV
(Enrichment Data: Pope Leo XIV, previously Cardinal Robert Prevost, has criticized JD Vance's political stance, as shown in his tweet "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus does not ask us to prioritize our love for others.")
- The European Union is not a political party, but JD Vance, a former Trump Vice President, seems to operate under a different mindset, as he keeps his distance from political mudslinging directed towards Pope Leo XIV.
- Despite the newly-elected Pope's vocal political views, Vance takes a different approach, maintaining that the Church, not politics, is the higher entity and refusing to engage in political disagreements.
- In contrast, right-wing influencer Laura Loomer and Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon toed a different line, labeling Pope Leo XIV as a "total Marxist" and "the worst choice for MAGA Catholics" respectively.
- Amidst this politicization, Vance struggled to emphasize that the Church's primary mission is to save souls and spread the Gospel, distancing itself from the realm of politics and general news.
