Pope Leo XIV called out JD Vance with scathing statement just weeks before being first American elected
ArchiveFirst published May 9, 2025. It may not reflect later developments.
A Historic Election
On May 8, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American to lead the Catholic Church. The announcement drew praise from U.S. leaders. Donald Trump called it a “Great Honor for our Country,” and JD Vance tweeted, “May God bless him!”
Praise with Tension
Despite Vance’s warm words, Pope Leo XIV hasn’t shied away from criticism. In the past, he reshared an op-ed titled “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others”—a direct response to Vance’s February Fox News remarks about prioritizing love for family over others.
Vance’s Controversial View
“There is a Christian concept that you love your family… then your fellow citizens… and then the rest of the world,” Vance said, accusing the left of reversing this order. Pope Leo’s retweet signals disapproval of this hierarchy.
Silent but Clear
Although Pope Leo hasn’t directly responded to the recent praise, his past actions suggest a complicated dynamic with Vance—and even Trump, whose policies the Pope has also critiqued online.
