Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism, has expressed his views on President Donald Trump’s ongoing conflict with Pope Leo XIV, advising that the Pope should focus on “matters of morality.”
Speaking to Fox News on Monday, April 13, Vance, 41, stated, “Disagreements with the Vatican are bound to happen occasionally. I actually think it’s positive that the Pope is championing the causes he believes in. However, disparities will always arise concerning public policy.”
Vance further remarked, “While the Pope has criticized our immigration policy, it’s ultimately President Trump who dictates U.S. immigration rules. There will be other areas of disagreement too. Nonetheless, we maintain respect for the Pope and share a strong relationship with the Vatican.”
The Vice President added that it is “entirely reasonable” for the Vatican and the White House to hold differing views on “substantive” issues. He suggested that Pope Leo, 70, should perhaps refrain from engaging in U.S. foreign policy matters.
Vance stated that the President must prioritize the interests of the United States. “This means that when the Vatican comments on public policy, there will be both agreement and disagreement. In certain situations, I believe it would be more appropriate for the Vatican to concentrate on moral issues and the affairs of the Catholic Church, while the President shapes public policy.”
He concluded, “When conflicts arise, they arise. It doesn’t concern me too much… I believe it’s a natural occurrence. It’s likely to happen again in the future.”
Us Weekly has reached out to the Vatican for comment.
Vance embraced Catholicism at 35 in August 2019, having been raised in an evangelical family.
Earlier this month, Pope Leo XIV strongly opposed the U.S. military actions in Iran during his Easter address on April 5, describing the conflict as a “delusion of omnipotence” and a “discourse of death.”
In response, President Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social on Sunday, April 12, labeling him “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy.” Trump also alleged that Leo’s selection as Pope in March 2025 was influenced by the Vatican’s desire to improve relations with the White House by selecting an American.
Trump, 79, complained on Sunday, “[The Pope] talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart.”
Pope Leo XIV in Monaco in March 2026. Stephane Cardinale/PLS Monaco Pool/Getty Images
Continuing his social media criticism, Trump stated, “I oppose a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m fulfilling what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do: achieving record low crime rates and creating the greatest stock market in history.”
Pope Leo responded on Monday, affirming to reporters that he has “no fear of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel.”
On the same day, President Trump reiterated his criticism of the Pope during a White House press conference.
Trump addressed the press, saying, “[The Pope] opposed what I’m doing regarding Iran, and a nuclear Iran is unacceptable. Pope Leo would not approve of the outcome.” He continued, “I think he’s very weak on crime and other issues, so I’m not [going to apologize].”
In another incident, President Trump faced criticism for posting an AI-generated image of himself depicted as Jesus Christ on Sunday. The post was removed from Truth Social following backlash from both supporters and critics.
Trump attempted to dismiss the controversy on Monday, telling reporters at the White House that he believed the AI image portrayed him “as a doctor and related to [the] Red Cross.”
