Pope Leo Gives JD Vance Cold Shoulder After Inaugural Mass

Pope Leo Briefly Greets Vance, Prioritizes Other World Leaders

Pope Leo XIV greeted Vice President JD Vance with only a brief handshake following his inaugural Mass on Sunday, while dedicating significant time to private meetings with other world leaders. The short 17-second exchange with Vance stood in contrast to the Pope's extended conversations with dignitaries such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte. The White House / Wikimedia

Sermon Criticizes Global Injustice, Echoes of Political Reproach

The cool reception followed pointed remarks during Pope Leo’s sermon, in which he condemned global systems of exploitation and xenophobia. The comments were interpreted by some as a veiled rebuke of Vance and the Trump administration’s immigration record. Taylor Van Kirk / Office of the Vice President of the United States / Wikimedia

Leo Condemns Exploitation, Hatred, and Marginalization in Homily

“In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalizes the poorest,” Leo said. U.S. Department of State / Wikimedia

Vance and Rubio Continue Diplomacy with European Leaders

Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio continued diplomatic outreach by meeting with several European leaders, including Zelensky, later that day. U.S. Department of State / Wikimedia

New Pope Previously Criticized Vance’s Immigration Stance

Tensions between Vance and the Catholic hierarchy are not new. Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Father Robert Prevost had shared social media posts critical of Vance’s role in Trump-era immigration policies. One reposted op-ed from the National Catholic Reporter read, “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.” U.S. Department of State / Wikimedia

Past Tensions with Pope Francis Resurface in Immigration Clash

Earlier this year, Vance and then-Pope Francis also clashed over immigration. In a February letter to Catholic bishops, Francis condemned deportation practices that “damage the dignity of many men and women,” placing them “in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness.” Vance defended the policy on religious grounds but later told Hugh Hewitt, “I try not to play the politicization of the Pope game.” Yakov Fedorov / Wikimedia

Vance Pays Tribute to Francis in Attempt to Mend Vatican Ties

Following Pope Francis’s death in April, just one day after a short meeting with Vance, the vice president attempted a gesture of reconciliation. On Saturday, he visited Francis’s tomb, writing on X that he was “praying for the repose of his soul,” adding, “He was beloved by many Catholics around the world.” Office of the Vice President of the United States / Wikimedia