In a notable gesture of reconciliation, Vice President JD Vance expressed his appreciation for Pope Leo XIV on Saturday. The vice president commended the Pope for taking steps to reduce tensions in a heated dispute with President Trump concerning the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Vance’s remarks came after Pope Leo clarified his stance, emphasizing that he had no intention of engaging in a public debate with Trump. This statement followed a sermon earlier in the month where the Pope criticized leaders who wage war, suggesting that divine intervention eludes those with “hands full of blood.” This sermon had sparked a contentious exchange with the president.
In a post on X Saturday night, Vance commented, “I am grateful to Pope Leo for saying this. While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict–and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen – the reality is often much more complicated.”
He continued by acknowledging the Pope’s role in addressing moral issues, stating, “Pope Leo preaches the gospel, as he should, and that will inevitably mean he offers his opinions on the moral issues of the day. The President – and the entire administration – work to apply those moral principles in a messy world. He will be in our prayers, and I hope that we’ll be in his.”
Vance’s conciliatory message followed comments from the Pope earlier in the day, where the first American pontiff addressed his clash with Trump. Leo clarified to reporters that his sermons aimed to advocate for global peace and an end to all wars, rather than specifically targeting the US-Israel tensions with Iran that flared up on February 28.
Leo told reporters he was preaching about global peace and an end to all wars – not taking aim at the US-Israel conflict with Iran that erupted Feb. 28.
“There’s been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects, but because of the political situation created when, on the first day of the trip, the president of the United States made some comments about myself,” he said on the papal plane during his 11-day tour of Africa.
“Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary, trying to interpret what has been said.”
Leo pointed to unusually blunt remarks he made earlier this week — amid his dispute with Trump — where he blasted that the world is “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants.”
“And yet as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest at all,” the Chicago-born pope said, adding he would continue to call for world peace.
The squabble exploded last month when Leo branded the Iran conflict “atrocious” and declared Jesus cannot be used to justify any wars.
He also previously said “delusion of omnipotence” was fueling the war.
Trump lashed out on Truth Social, slamming Leo as “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” and insisting he doesn’t “want a Pope who criticizes” him for doing what he “was elected” to do.
