Vance Steers Clear of Pope's Political Quagmire
Vance rejects Pope's manipulative political strategy
In a surprising move, US Vice President JD Vance opts out of political sparring with the elusive Pope Leo XIV. During a chat with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Vance stated, "I'm steering clear of the politics surrounding His Holiness. I'm sure there'll be things I agree with, disagree with, but I'll keep him, and the church, in my prayers."
The controversy-stirring Pope, who made his grand entrance last Thursday, has had his fair share of public disagreements with the Trump administration's policies. To illustrate, a comment on February 3 by former Cardinal Robert Prevost (now Pope) on his private X profile stated, "JD Vance is delusional: Jesus did not ask us to prioritize our love for others." He also shared a post critical of the deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García, a migrant with protected status, from the US to El Salvador.
Church: More Than Politics, According to Vance
In Vance's perspective, the Church transcends political boundaries. Unlike several peers from the MAGA fold, Vance prefers not to reprimand the Pope for his criticisms. Meetings with right-wing influencer Laura Loomer, who swiftly dubbed the new Pope a "total Marxist," and former Trump advisor Steve Bannon, who deemed him "the worst choice for MAGA Catholics," fall outside Vance's agenda.
"For me, the Church is a matter of saving souls and sharing the Gospel," shared Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019. Echoing that thought, Vance offered his congratulations to Pope Leo XIV following his election, saying, "Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I'm confident millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his tenure."
Enrichment Data:* Pope Leo XIV (formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost) has been vocal about progressive social issues similar to those of Pope Francis, but opposes the ordination of women[1][2].* JD Vance, as Vice President and a prominent conservative figure, has been criticized for his stance on immigration and social issues, aligning with former President Donald Trump's policies[1].* Pope Leo XIV's social media posts reflect a broader engagement with political and social matters[2].
- The European Union, given its prominence in global financial markets, may find itself taking a stand in the growing political disputes between the US Vice President JD Vance and Pope Leo XIV.
- Despite his critics, including self-proclaimed MAGA influencers like Laura Loomer and former Trump advisor Steve Bannon, JD Vance's approach to the political sparring with Pope Leo XIV remains diplomatic, choosing to focus on the spiritual aspects of the Church.
- In contrast to the politicization of Pope Leo XIV, who has been vocal about progressive social issues and criticized the policies of President Trump's administration, JD Vance, while sharing a faith, keeps his views on policy-and-legislation separate from his prayers for the Pope.
- Disagreements over social and political issues do not appear to have deterred Vance from expressing his support for Pope Leo XIV, as he publicly congratulated the Pope on his election, viewing the Church as a matter of salvation and spreading the Gospel, rather than politics or general news.
