WATCH: Vance says Pope Leo should 'be careful' when talking about religion

PBS NewsHour
by Bill Barrow, Associated Press
April 15, 2026
10 views
2 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Vice President JD Vance publicly told Pope Leo to "be careful" when discussing religion.

AI Summary

Vice President JD Vance publicly questioned Pope Leo, stating the Pope should "be careful" when discussing religion. This pushback came specifically after Pope Leo's Palm Sunday assertion that God does not hear the prayers of those who make war. Vance's remarks indicate a continued disagreement with the pontiff's pronouncements. This public critique from the sitting Vice President highlights a notable tension between the Trump administration and the Vatican.

Source Coverage Map

7 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

16% coverage
Did Not Cover (36)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP News96AP US News96AP Top News96+31 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Other Sources Covering This Story

5 sources

Multiple outlets have reported on this story. Compare perspectives from different sources.

Story Tracker

This article is part of a story we're tracking:

Vice President Vance's Warning to Pope Leo and Trump's AI Jesus Image

Vice President JD Vance publicly warned Pope Leo to 'be careful' when discussing theological matters, sparking controversy. Concurrently, House Speaker Mike Johnson revealed he asked President Trump to remove an AI-generated image depicting Trump as Jesus Christ, highlighting tensions around religious and political messaging.

Vice President Vance Criticizes Pope Leo on Theology

Vice President JD Vance has publicly criticized Pope Leo, warning him to 'be careful' when discussing theological matters. This public admonition from a Catholic Vice President to the Pope has sparked controversy and discussion.

Vice President Vance's Comments on Pope Leo

Vice President JD Vance has publicly admonished Pope Leo XIV (or Pope Francis in some reports), warning him to 'be careful' when discussing theological matters, particularly after the Pontiff's critique of Iran. These comments have sparked debate and drawn attention to the intersection of politics and religion.

Vice President JD Vance's Controversial Remarks on Pope Leo

Vice President JD Vance has drawn attention and criticism for his public remarks regarding Pope Leo, specifically advising the Pontiff to 'be careful' when discussing theological matters. These comments, made at a conservative event, have sparked debate about the separation of church and state and the role of religious figures in political discourse.

Vice President JD Vance's Controversial Comments on Pope Leo

Vice President JD Vance has drawn criticism for publicly warning Pope Leo to 'be careful' when discussing theological matters. These comments were made during a Turning Point USA event and followed a critique of Iran, sparking debate among religious and political figures.

Vice President JD Vance's Criticism of Pope Leo

Vice President JD Vance has publicly criticized Pope Leo, warning him to 'be careful' when discussing theological matters and taking issue with the Pontiff's critique of Iran. This public admonition from Vance, a Catholic himself, has drawn attention and sparked debate.

Vice President Vance's Criticism of Pope Leo and Religious Commentary

Vice President JD Vance has publicly criticized Pope Leo, advising him to 'be careful' when discussing theology and commenting on the US-Iran conflict. This has sparked debate and drawn reactions from various political and religious figures.

Vice President Vance and Pope Leo Controversy

Vice President JD Vance has publicly criticized Pope Leo, warning him to 'be careful' when discussing theology, particularly concerning Iran. This has led to heckling at public events and a broader discussion about religious and political interference.

VP Vance's Criticism of Pope Leo and Public Heckling

Vice President JD Vance has publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV, warning him to 'be careful' when discussing theology, particularly concerning Iran. This stance has drawn attention, with Vance being heckled by antiwar protesters during a Turning Point USA event, highlighting growing dissent among some supporters.

JD Vance's Public Criticism of Pope Leo

Vice President JD Vance has publicly criticized Pope Leo, warning him to 'be careful' when discussing theological matters, particularly in relation to Iran. This has sparked controversy and heckling at public events.

Trump-Pope Leo XIV Rift and JD Vance's Comments

A public rift has emerged between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, with Trump criticizing the Pope's stance on various issues. Vice President JD Vance has publicly weighed in, advising the Pope to 'be careful' when discussing theological matters, potentially impacting political support among conservative Catholics.

VP Vance's Public Criticism of Pope Leo and Trump's Attacks

Vice President JD Vance has publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV, advising him to 'be careful' when discussing theology, leading to heckling at a Turning Point USA event. This comes amidst President Trump's repeated attacks on Pope Leo, contributing to a public rift that is reportedly costing him support.

AI & Technology

Following the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and its impact on society, including regulation debates, workforce disruption, military applications, privacy concerns, and the race between tech giants and governments to shape AI's future.

Iran & Middle East Conflict

Tracking the evolving military and diplomatic situation across the Middle East, including US-Iran tensions, Israeli operations, proxy conflicts, and the broader geopolitical implications for the region.

Criticism of Pope Leo XIV by Trump and Vance

President Trump and Vice President JD Vance have publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV, particularly regarding the Pope's stance on the Iran war and religion. This has drawn reactions from political figures and the Pope himself.

Trump's Criticism of Pope Leo XIV and Religious Posts

President Trump has engaged in an ongoing public dispute with Pope Leo XIV, criticizing the pontiff's calls for peace and stance on the Iran conflict. This has been accompanied by Trump's own controversial religious-themed social media posts, including AI-generated images.

Trump Administration's Strained Relationship with Pope Leo XIV

President Trump has engaged in a public feud with Pope Leo XIV, criticizing the pontiff's stance on the Iran conflict and other political matters. This unusual tension has drawn reactions from political figures and religious experts, highlighting a divergence in views between the administration and the Vatican.

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

WATCH: Pope Leo's historic and poignant trip to Africa
Global

WATCH: Pope Leo's historic and poignant trip to Africa

The first American Pope called for peace and unity in front of a crowd of 100,000 worshippers, advocating for social justice as he wrapped the first week of his landmark Papal trip to Africa.

ABC NewsApr 20
Republican senator criticizes Trump’s ‘holy war’ with Pope Leo
Politics

Republican senator criticizes Trump’s ‘holy war’ with Pope Leo

<p>Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, a long supporter of Trump, says president’s feud with the pope is a ‘distraction’</p><p>A Republican lawmaker has condemned what he refers to as Donald Trump’s “holy war” against Pope Leo XIV.</p><p>Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, a long supporter of Trump and the ultraconservative Maga movement, condemned the president’s attacks on the pope during a Fox News interview<em> </em>on Saturday<em>.</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/19/republican-senator-criticizes-trump-pope-feud">Continue reading...</a>

The Guardian US NewsApr 19
Stefanik defends Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo: ‘We know his leadership style’
Politics

Stefanik defends Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo: ‘We know his leadership style’

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) on Wednesday defended President Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV, after the twomen got into a public spat over the weekend about the U.S. operation in Iran. “I don’t want to see the Pope as a politician. The president — we know his leadership style. He’s going to stand strong for…

The HillApr 16
The week in pictures: Orban ousted in Hungary, Pope Leo's Africa tour and Trump as Jesus
Global

The week in pictures: Orban ousted in Hungary, Pope Leo's Africa tour and Trump as Jesus

Hungary ended 16 years of Viktor Orban’s rule, Pope Leo XIV began his first African tour with a historic first papal visit to Algeria and US President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus. Here is a look back at some of the week’s most striking images.

© Alberto Pizzoli, AFPApr 19
Pope Leo urges Cameroon to reject violence
Politics

Pope Leo urges Cameroon to reject violence

Pope Leo XIV stopped in Cameroon as part of his 11-day Africa trip. During a Mass attended by over 100,000 people, he urged the crowd to reject violence.

CBS NewsApr 18
Police investigate bomb threat at Chicago-area home of Pope Leo's brother - Reuters
National Security

Police investigate bomb threat at Chicago-area home of Pope Leo's brother - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxNUGdqSjQ3U00zWlBqS08tUFVvVDliN0FUNXhGQkVkUVNacllDN2FJdHJDc1hkRWRfUDVaaUhBTjk1TXJpSGJaMG9HYmduWlN0ZkQ4TC12SlpOdzREeVE3aTZTcV9lbTFMcHNScjZ3RHMzbTF4VFNsUEhtUXdPbXotaUhwUVNiR2sxNFdEY1NRNEVqSnozNmRoRkZ1cmxod1BnRDA4b2pjZXFxSThw?oc=5" target="_blank">Police investigate bomb threat at Chicago-area home of Pope Leo's brother</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersApr 16
Read Next
Trump labor secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns amid misconduct investigation - The Guardian
Politics

Trump labor secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns amid misconduct investigation - The Guardian

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources