While U.S. Vice President JD Vance publicly praised the election of Pope Leo XIV, the new pope has previously shown little enthusiasm for Vance’s views. Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, once reshared a critical op-ed titled “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others”—a clear response to Vance’s comments prioritizing Americans over the global community.
Despite the warm congratulations from both Vance and President Trump, Pope Leo has a history of criticizing their policies, especially on immigration and compassion in politics. It’s a diplomatic handshake from one side, but the other may be keeping its distance.
