Vice President JD Vance pushed back sharply against Pope Leo XIV's criticism of U.S. military action, telling the pontiff to exercise caution when speaking about matters of faith and doctrine.
Speaking Tuesday at a Turning Point USA event in Athens, Georgia, Vance took issue with the pope's recent statement that Jesus "is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs." He argued the pope was overlooking historical moral clarity, particularly in World War II.
"Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated France from the Nazis? Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated Holocaust camps and those innocent people who had survived the Holocaust?" Vance asked. "I certainly think the answer is yes."
Vance, a Catholic who met with Leo during a visit to the Vatican in May, said he welcomes papal input on major social issues including abortion, immigration, and questions of war and peace. But he drew a distinction between offering moral commentary and pronouncing on theological matters.
"I think it's very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology," Vance said. "If you're going to opine on matters of theology, you've got to be careful. You've got to make sure it's anchored in the truth."
The vice president framed his criticism in parallel terms, noting that he himself takes care when weighing in on public policy as a government official.
The rebuke comes as tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration have intensified. Pope Leo recently condemned the war in Iran, prompting the president to attack him on social media, calling him "WEAK on crime" and "terrible for Foreign Policy." When NBC News asked the pope about Trump's comments, Leo said he has "no fear" of the Trump administration and reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for peace rooted in Gospel teachings.
Trump's remarks stirred significant backlash within the American Catholic community, with clergy defending the pontiff and condemning the president's attacks as inappropriate. The tensions escalated when Trump posted an artificial intelligence image portraying himself as a Christ-like figure, which he later deleted following criticism from his own allies and supporters. Trump subsequently claimed the image was meant to reference the Red Cross and depict him as a physician.
Vance's intervention represents an unusual position for a vice president in a sitting administration. While aligning with Trump's criticism of the pope, Vance attempted a more measured tone, emphasizing disagreement on theological and policy grounds rather than personal attacks.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Vance's lecture on theological precision is rich coming from an administration casually posting AI Christ imagery, but his core point about the pope overreaching on military ethics isn't without weight."
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