Original Source
VP Vance Warns Pope to 'Be Careful' Over Criticism of Iran War
Vice President Vance Warns Pope on 'Theological Matters'
J.D. Vance, the Vice President in the Donald Trump administration, issued a warning to Pope Leo XIV, telling him to "be careful" and criticizing the Pope for "opining on matters of theology" in his comments about the Iran War. Vance suggested that just as a vice president should be cautious when discussing public policy, the Pope should exercise similar caution when speaking on theological matters, referencing a quote from the prophet Hosea about the dangers of speaking on theology one does not understand.
Pope's Criticism of Iran War and Bishops' Defense
The Pope had previously spoken out during the Iran War, criticizing President Trump's rhetoric about "destroying a civilization" and declaring on Palm Sunday that "Jesus does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them." However, Vance pushed back on this, questioning whether God was on the side of Americans who liberated Holocaust camps. In response, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops defended the Pope, stating that "When Pope Leo XIV speaks as supreme pastor of the universal Church, he is not merely offering opinions on theology, he is preaching the Gospel." The Pope is currently in Algeria, an overwhelmingly Muslim country, where he visited a mosque and emphasized a message of peaceful coexistence among different faiths.
*Source: YouTube: ABC News (2026-04-16)*
