JD Vance Rejects Politicizing Pope Leo XIV, First American Pontiff
Sarah Johnson
May 10, 2025
Brief
JD Vance refuses to politicize Pope Leo XIV’s election, urging focus on faith over labeling the first American pope as conservative or liberal.
Vice President JD Vance sidestepped the political boxing ring on Friday when asked about the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff. Speaking to conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Vance hailed the election as a "great thing," shrugging off attempts to label the pope as conservative or liberal. "We don’t know much about him yet," Vance said, "but as a Catholic, I’m praying for his wisdom and a long, successful papacy."
Vance, a Catholic convert, pushed back against politicizing the papacy, noting that the Catholic Church, a 2,000-year-old institution, doesn’t neatly fit into America’s 2025 political divides. "The Church is about saving souls, not fitting into a pre-ordained political box," he said, urging people to focus on faith over partisan scorecards.
The election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, has sparked mixed reactions. President Donald Trump celebrated the historic moment on Truth Social, calling it a "Great Honor" for the U.S. and expressing eagerness to meet the new pope. However, some conservatives, like Steve Bannon and commentator Joey Mannarino, criticized Leo’s past social media activity, including reposts critical of Trump’s deportation policies and comments on open borders. Conservative radio host Charlie Kirk expressed cautious optimism, noting Leo’s pro-life stance but raising concerns about his views on immigration.
Vance lamented the media’s focus on political angles, calling it "disappointing" that reporters grilled cardinals about Trump during a press conference on Leo’s election. "Most of the millions of Catholics in the U.S. aren’t worried about whether the pope is liberal or conservative," he said. "The Church’s views don’t always map easily onto politics."
Pope Leo XIV was elected Thursday, succeeding Pope Francis, who passed away last month after a health struggle. As the first American-born pope, Leo’s leadership is already stirring debate, but Vance’s message is clear: faith should trump politics.
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Editor's Comments
Vance is playing the wise cardinal here, dodging the political hot potato while everyone else tries to pin a red or blue jersey on Pope Leo XIV. It’s like trying to get Jesus to pick a side in a Twitter feud—good luck! Meanwhile, Bannon’s calling Leo the ‘worst pick ever,’ probably because the new pope didn’t show up waving a MAGA hat. Here’s a joke: Why did the pope’s X account cause a stir? Because even the Vatican can’t resist a spicy retweet!
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