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JD Vance has spoken out amid the growing back-and-forth between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, making it clear he believes the Vatican should stay focused on religious matters.
Speaking in a Fox News interview, Vance said disagreements between political leaders and the Catholic Church are bound to happen, but suggested the Church should avoid stepping into policy debates.
"I certainly think that in some cases, it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality," he said. He added that the Church should concentrate on its own affairs and "let the president of the United States stick to dictating American public policy."
Vance did not appear concerned about the tension, saying, "But when they're in conflict, they're in conflict. I don't worry about it too much." He also noted that whenever the Vatican comments on public policy, there will naturally be both agreement and disagreement.
His remarks came shortly after Trump criticised Pope Leo in a Truth Social post, calling him "WEAK on Crime" and "terrible for Foreign Policy." The president also pushed back against criticism of his leadership, writing, "I don't want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I'm doing exactly what I was elected... to do."
The Pope, however, has not backed down. Responding to the criticism, he said he has "no fear of the Trump administration" and will continue speaking out on global issues.
He stressed the need for peace, saying, "Too many people are suffering in the world today... too many innocent people are being killed," and called for a better way forward.
Vance also weighed in on the backlash over an AI-generated image Trump shared online that portrayed him in a Christ-like way. He dismissed it as "a joke," saying the president took it down after realising that many people did not understand the humour.
The vice president converted to Catholicism in 2019.
