JD Vance may have publicly backed Cardinal Robert Prevost’s rise to the papacy, but it’s clear the admiration doesn’t go both ways.
On May 8, it was officially announced that Cardinal Prevost would succeed Pope Francis, who passed away last month. Now known as Pope Leo XIV, the 69-year-old makes history as the first American ever elected to lead the Catholic Church.
His election was met with enthusiastic support from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance — despite Trump joking that he himself was next in line for the role.
But does Pope Leo XIV return that respect? Not exactly — especially when it comes to Vance.
Just weeks before ascending to the papacy, Leo XIV appeared to take a swipe at Vance on Twitter, resharing a pointed op-ed from the National Catholic Reporter titled: “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”
The article was a direct response to Vance’s February appearance on Fox News, where he said:
“There is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritize the rest of the world.
A lot of the far left has completely inverted that.”
While Vance may have intended to strike a patriotic tone, Pope Leo XIV — even before donning the papal miter — made it clear he wasn’t buying it.
Yes Vance, he’s looking at you (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Despite Pope Leo’s sharing of comments made about Vance, the vice president issued his support for the first American pope in a post to Twitter on the day the announcement was officially made.
Vance tweeted: “Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!”
He didn’t hold back (drprevost/X)
It follows Trump similarly taking to Truth Social to give his stamp of approval too, writing: “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. 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!”
Trump’s comments were also delivered despite the multiple posts – and there really are quite a few – Leo has shared which criticize his policies.
