Trump-loyalist Vance sees no problem in telling the Pope to ‘stick to matters of morality’ while he continues to promote his own book on Catholicism
Church vs. State: Vance Edition
Vice President J.D. Vance just drew a hard line between the Vatican and the White House, telling Pope Leo XIV to “stick to matters of morality” and leave American public policy to the president. The clash comes after the first American pope publicly criticized the administration’s stance on Iran and immigration, sparking a social media spat with the president.
According to Fox News, Vance sat down with Fox News’ Bret Baier on Special Report Monday to defend the president after the Pope called out the administration’s foreign policy. “I certainly think that in some cases, it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality,” Vance said.
“And let the President of the United States stick to dictating American public policy,” he added. The vice president made it clear he sees no issue with the two leaders butting heads, calling it a “natural thing” that happens from time to time.
The tension between the White House and the Vatican has been simmering for weeks
Over the weekend, the president took to Truth Social to fire back at Pope Leo, calling him “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.” He added, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
The pope, speaking to reporters outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo, pushed back, saying his role isn’t political. “The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the Peacemakers,” he said. “I do not look at my role as being political, a politician.”
Vance, who has been open about his own conversion to Catholicism, shrugged off the public disagreement. “When they’re in conflict, they’re in conflict. I don’t worry about it too much, Bret,” he told Baier. “I think it’s a natural thing. I’m sure it will happen in the future, and it’s not that big of a deal that it happened in the past.”
He also downplayed the significance of the clash, calling it “not particularly newsworthy” and noting that the White House still maintains a strong relationship with the Vatican. The vice president didn’t stop there. He also addressed the backlash over an AI-generated image the president shared — and later deleted — that depicted him in a way critics compared to Jesus.
The V-P dismissed Trump’s AI image controversy as a misunderstood joke
“The president was posting a joke, and of course, he took it down because he recognized that a lot of people weren’t understanding his humor in that case,” he said. “The President of the United States likes to mix it up on social media, and I actually think that’s one of the good things about this president is that he’s not filtered.”
It’s important to note that Vance’s comments come as he prepares to release a book about his own faith journey, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, on June 16. The book details his conversion to Catholicism, a journey he’s described as a return to the faith of his youth after years of straying.
“The story of how I regained my faith, of course, only happened because I had lost it to begin with,” Vance, 41, had said. “The interesting question that hangs over this book, and over my mind, is why I ever strayed from the path. Why the Christian faith of my youth failed to properly take root.”
The book’s release has sparked speculation about Vance’s political ambitions, with many seeing it as a potential stepping stone for a 2028 presidential run. It was noted that presidential hopefuls often release books before launching campaigns, giving them a platform to reach new audiences and refine their message. Vance, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022 and became V-P at 40, is widely considered a likely contender for the Republican nomination.
Vance’s faith has played a significant role in his political career
This is especially the case in shaping his views on immigration and national policy. In 2025, he cited a medieval Catholic concept known as ordo amoris – a hierarchy of care that prioritizes family, neighbors, and fellow citizens over those from other regions – to defend the administration’s deportation policies. His book is expected to delve deeper into how his faith informs his worldview, including his approach to governance and public life.
The vice president’s relationship with the Vatican has been a mix of diplomacy and disagreement. Last April, he met with Pope Francis just one day before the pontiff’s death, a meeting that underscored the administration’s efforts to maintain ties with the Holy See. But Vance’s latest remarks suggest he’s not afraid to draw boundaries when it comes to the pope’s influence on U.S. policy.
While he acknowledged the White House’s respect for the Vatican’s religious authority, he made it clear that disagreements on substantive issues are inevitable and not something to lose sleep over. For now, the public spat between the president and Pope Leo seems to be cooling off, but Vance’s comments signal that the administration isn’t backing down from its stance.
If anything, the vice president’s defense of the president’s social media presence and his dismissal of the controversy over the AI-generated image suggest a willingness to lean into the administration’s unfiltered approach. Whether that strategy will pay off or just fuel more clashes with the Vatican remains to be seen.
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