Vance Sidesteps Political Debate Over New Pope, Emphasizes Unity
Vice President JD Vance refrained from engaging in political discussions surrounding the newly elected Pope Leo XIV on Friday, characterizing his selection as a “great thing.” Vance’s comments came amidst growing political divisions, particularly within some factions of the "America First" movement, regarding the new Pope’s perceived ideological leanings.
"So many people my entire lifetime have said you’re never going to have an American pope," Vance remarked during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, responding to a question about his reaction to the election. "Obviously, now we do, so I think that’s a great thing."
Vance acknowledged the limited information available about the new pontiff, stating, "We don’t know a whole lot about him, but I just wish him the best, right? I’m a Catholic. He’s now the head of the Catholic Church, and we’ll pray for his wisdom, for his good decisions, and his good health, and hope that he has a long and successful papacy."
The Vice President cautioned against politicizing the selection of a new pope, suggesting that such events often become "discolored" by political considerations. "People are asking is he a conservative or is he a liberal," Vance noted, highlighting the emerging political narratives surrounding Pope Leo XIV. "Will he attack President Trump and J.D. Vance on certain things, and hasn’t attacked Democrats on other things."
Vance dismissed the notion of fitting the papacy into contemporary American political frameworks, stating that it’s hard to "fit a 2,000-year-old institution into the politics of 2025 America."
Drawing on his experience as a Catholic convert, Vance emphasized his commitment to avoiding the "politicization of the Pope game." He expressed confidence that he would agree with some of the Pope’s statements while disagreeing with others, but reaffirmed his intention to "continue to pray for him and the Church despite it all and through it all, and that’ll be the way that I handle it."
Vance’s remarks followed reports about an X account linked to Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, which had reposted articles earlier in the year that were critical of the Trump administration’s deportation policies. Vance also echoed Hewitt’s sentiment that it was "disappointing" for reporters to question cardinals at a press conference about Leo’s election in relation to Trump.
"The Church is so much bigger than politics," Vance asserted, emphasizing that most of the millions of Catholics in the United States are not concerned with the Pope’s position on the political spectrum. He acknowledged that the Catholic leadership holds diverse views, some of which may align with the right or the left, while others defy easy categorization.
"There are a lot of views the Catholic leadership holds that are, you know, you might consider on the right side of the spectrum. There are a lot of views they’re going to hold that might be more traditionally on the left side of the spectrum. And then there are a lot of views that don’t map easily onto politics at all."
Vance emphasized that while the Church occasionally addresses public policy matters, its primary focus lies elsewhere. "I think it would be better for all of us if we allowed the Church to be about the saving of souls and didn’t try to fit it into a pre-ordained political box," he concluded.
Pope Leo XIV’s election followed the death of Pope Francis last month after a period of declining health. President Trump promptly offered his congratulations on Truth Social, writing, "It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"
However, dissenting voices within conservative circles have emerged. Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist in Trump’s administration and a Catholic, reportedly called Leo the "worst pick ever." Pro-Trump commentator Joey Mannarino took to X to allege that "the new Pope has recently attacked JD Vance, shown solidarity with Kilmar Abrego-Garcia and begged Trump to open the borders like Biden had them. This guy is worse than Francis."
Conservative radio host Charlie Kirk also expressed reservations in a video on X, stating, "Let’s just say, not so great tweets about having some willingness for open borders. We’ll see kind of how he is on that. Also some George Floyd stuff that I’m not too crazy about." Kirk added that "overall, it seems like he’s a pro-life warrior" and expressed hope that the new Pope would be a strong advocate for strong borders and sovereignty.
The diverse reactions to Pope Leo XIV’s election underscore the complex interplay between faith and politics in the United States, highlighting the challenge of reconciling traditional religious values with contemporary political ideologies. Vance’s call for unity and prayer amidst these divisions reflects an effort to maintain focus on the spiritual role of the Church while navigating the increasingly polarized landscape of American politics. His approach emphasizes shared faith and common ground, seeking to transcend political differences in the face of new religious leadership.
