Pope Leo XIV Took Aim at J.D. Vance Just Weeks Before Becoming First American Pope

In the weeks leading up to his historic election as the first American pope, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV — quietly but firmly entered a national conversation that had increasingly blurred the lines between faith and politics. At the center of his rare intervention was U.S. Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, whose public remarks on immigration, nationalism, and the role of Christianity in American life had drawn widespread attention — and concern — within Catholic circles.

Though Pope Leo XIV did not name Vance directly during his address at a theological conference in Rome in early April 2025, his message was unmistakable to those who had followed the senator’s rhetoric. Delivered in both English and Italian to an audience of academics, clergy, and students, the speech was titled “Faith, Fear, and the Responsibility of Christian Witness in Public Life.” It was one of his final major addresses as Cardinal Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops — a position that had made him a key figure in shaping Church leadership around the globe.

A Clear Response to Nationalism

In his remarks, then-Cardinal Prevost warned against what he described as “the dangerous confusion between religious identity and political ideology.” He expressed deep concern over movements that “seek to weaponize faith to divide, exclude, or dominate,” stating that the Christian mission is not to fortify borders or elevate one nation’s culture, but to “accompany the poor, welcome the stranger, and bind up the wounds of the suffering.”

Observers quickly noted the parallels between his message and recent speeches by Senator Vance, who had intensified his calls for a “Christian nationalism” in the U.S. — a vision that emphasized the prioritization of Christian cultural values in American policy and immigration law. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, had also called for tighter restrictions on immigration and had suggested that Christian Americans were under threat from “globalist” and “secular” forces.

Cardinal Prevost’s words pushed back gently but firmly against this worldview.

“There is a temptation,” he said, “to reduce the Gospel to a tool of national pride or civil order, but Christ was not crucified to defend a border. He suffered and rose to redeem every life, regardless of flag or language.”

A Pattern of Moral Engagement

This was not the first time the future pope had spoken out against the misuse of faith in public life. Throughout his career as a bishop and then as a Vatican official, Robert Prevost had frequently emphasized the Church’s social teachings on justice, inclusion, and peace. He had spent years working with marginalized communities in Peru, where he was a missionary, and remained outspoken about the Church’s responsibility to the poor and displaced.

His April address reflected a growing unease among many global Catholic leaders about the rising tide of nationalism in both Europe and the Americas — a sentiment shared by Pope Francis and now clearly inherited by his American successor.

Reaction and Silence

The cardinal’s remarks were covered by several Catholic news outlets at the time, but they gained renewed attention just weeks later when he was elected Pope Leo XIV. Once his identity as the new pope was revealed, many political and religious commentators looked back on his pre-papal speeches for insight into what kind of leader he would be.

Senator Vance, when approached for comment shortly after the election of Pope Leo XIV, declined to respond directly to the remarks. However, a spokesperson from his office stated that the senator “respects all religious leaders and welcomes dialogue with people of faith who are concerned about the future of Western civilization.”

Catholic political analysts noted the contrast between Vance’s tone and that of the new pope. “This wasn’t a personal attack,” said Dr. Maria Caltabiano, a theologian at Georgetown University. “It was a moral warning — one that aligns with a long tradition of Catholic social teaching. Pope Leo XIV is reminding us that Christianity is not a tribal badge, but a global, universal call to love.”

Looking Ahead

As Pope Leo XIV begins his pontificate, many believe his early comments foreshadow a broader commitment to engaging the political climate of the 21st century — not as a partisan voice, but as a moral compass. His first few public messages as pope have emphasized unity, humility, and the dignity of all people.

And while he may not continue to address political figures by name, his vision for the Church’s role in the world is already clear: one that resists the politicization of faith, rejects exclusion, and re-centers the Gospel on compassion, service, and solidarity.

In doing so, Pope Leo XIV is signaling not only a continuation of his predecessor’s global outreach but a distinctly American sense of courage — speaking truth with clarity, even when it challenges power.