US Vice President JD Vance faced boos during a speech at a Turning Point USA event on Tuesday, where he said Pope Leo XIV should “be careful when talking about matters of theology.”
His comments come after the pope criticized the war between the US and Israel against Iran in recent weeks.
The American vice president’s speech was interrupted by a member of the audience who shouted: “Jesus Christ does not support genocide.”
Vance defended the current administration’s efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
“When we arrived, the humanitarian situation in Gaza was an absolute catastrophe,” replied the American vice president.
“Do you know who achieved a peace agreement in Gaza? Donald J. Trump. So, if you want to complain about what happened in Gaza, why don’t you complain about Joe Biden and the previous government for resolving this problem?”, he stated.
Leo XIV told Reuters on Monday that he planned to continue criticizing the war despite President Donald Trump’s comments.
On Tuesday, the pope said the Catholic Church teaches that power cannot be seen as an end in itself, “but as an ordained means for the common good.”
Vance praises pope, but rejects criticism of war
The vice president stated during the event that although he was frustrated “to see some members of the Catholic clergy criticize US policies, he still likes and admires the pontiff.
“I even like it when there is disagreement. I like it when the pope talks about immigration issues, I like it when the pope talks about abortion, I like it when the pope talks about war and peace issues, because I think, at the very least, it invites conversation,” Vance said.
He added that “there are certainly things the pope has said in recent months that I disagree with.”
The vice president mentioned Pope Leo XIV’s social media post last week, which alluded to the war with Iran.
“Any disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, will never be on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today throw bombs,” the pope wrote.
“On the one hand, again, I admire the fact that the pope is an advocate of peace. I think that is certainly one of his roles,” Vance said.
“On the other hand, how can it be said that God is never on the side of those who wield the sword? Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated France from the Nazis? Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated the concentration camps and rescued those innocent Holocaust survivors? I certainly believe so,” added the US vice president.
Understand the crisis between Tump and Pope Leo XIV
On Sunday night (12), Donald Trump made a long post on social media directly criticizing Pope Leo XIV.
The president began the text by stating that the pontiff “is weak in the fight against crime and terrible at foreign policy.”
Additionally, he cited the Covid-19 pandemic, alleging that the Catholic Church and other Christian organizations “arrested” priests, pastors and other individuals for holding services “even outdoors, maintaining social distancing” — without providing evidence or giving details.
Trump also cited Louis, brother of Leo XIV, commenting that he would be a supporter of his government and that he would understand the policies adopted by his administration.
In another excerpt from the publication, Trump says he “doesn’t want” a pope who “thinks it’s normal for Iran to have nuclear weapons.” The leader of the Catholic Church has previously spoken out against the war in Iran, calling for peace and an end to violence.
The American government’s main justification for starting the war is the allegation that Iran was seeking to build nuclear weapons, something that Iranian authorities deny.
Furthermore, the president stated that he does not want “a pope who finds it terrible that the United States attacked Venezuela”, renewing accusations that the Latin American country would send prisoners to the US.
Previously, Leo XIV had asked that the United States not use military force against Maduro. After the operation that captured the dictator, the pontiff called for respect for human rights and the rule of law “as enshrined” in the Constitution of Venezuela.
“And I don’t want a pope who criticizes the president of the United States, because I’m doing exactly what I was elected to do,” Trump added.
The US president also claimed that Leo XIV was only elected pope because he was American and that, in the understanding of Catholic leaders, this would be “the best way to deal” with Trump.
“If I weren’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” he said.
Finally, Donald Trump even accused the pontiff of “giving in to the radical left”.
“Leão should behave like a pope, use common sense, stop giving in to the radical left and focus on being a Great Pope, not a politician,” he concluded.
After Donald Trump’s criticism, the pope told Reuters that he will continue speaking out against the war and that he does not want to “enter into a debate” with the American leader.
“I don’t think the Gospel message should be distorted in the way some people are doing it,” the pontiff highlighted.
“I will continue to speak out strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, dialogue and multilateral relations between states to find fair solutions to problems,” he said, speaking in English.
Later, in a speech in Algeria, he called on the country’s leaders to build a society based on the principles of justice and solidarity.
“Today, this is more urgent than ever in the face of continued violations of international law and neocolonial tendencies.”
(With information from Donald Judd of CNN)
