April 14, 2026
JD Vance Tells Pope Leo XIV to 'Stick to Matters of Morality' and Stay Out of US Public Policy
President Trump posted criticisms of the American pope on Truth Social, calling him weak on crime, as Vance urges the Vatican to stay out of U.S. public policy.
TL;DR
- Vice President JD Vance advised Pope Leo XIV to focus on religious matters and not U.S. public policy.
- President Trump previously criticized Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social for his stances on crime and foreign policy.
- Pope Leo XIV denied being political, stating his role is to spread the Gospel's message of peacemaking.
- Vance considers disagreements between political leaders and religious figures natural and not a major concern.
- Vance downplayed a controversy over an AI-generated image shared by Trump depicting him as Jesus, calling it a misunderstood joke.
- The White House maintains a good relationship with the Vatican despite occasional disagreements.