Pope Leo XIV, the recently elected leader of the Catholic Church, has publicly rebuked Vice President JD Vance’s viewpoint on prioritising love and care for one’s immediate circles before extending it to others.
In a post on X, Pope Leo took issue with Vance, stating: “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.Pope Leo’s tweet was in response to what Vance had said in a January 29 interview, reports the Irish Times.
The pontiff’s comment was in response to Vance’s remarks during an interview on January 29, as reported by the Irish Times: “There is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbour, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritise the rest of the world.”
His statement led many devout Christians to rally behind him, citing 1 Timothy 5:8, which underscores the importance of providing for one’s own family, reports the Express US.
However, Pope Leo’s tweet ignited a debate among some believers.
One user commented: “Catholicism has gone woke,” while another suggested, “Y’all ready to convert to Orthodoxy now?”.
Further comments such as “New pope, same as the old pope,” and “JD is never wrong,” highlighted a split in opinion over the pope’s critique of Vance’s interpretation of Christian values.
Despite the criticism, there were also voices of support for Pope Leo’s stance,.
One individual remarked, “This is poetic justice for Trump mocking Catholicism with that ridiculous photo last week.”
A jubilant supporter voiced their high hopes for the pontiff’s future, stating: “You are going to make a great Pope. Love matters no matter where we are from.”
Another individual, seizing the moment for a playful political swipe, remarked, “The new Pope gets it. JD Vance is a disaster.”
This stream of comments arrived following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks on the ascendancy of Leo XIV to papal authority.
Outlining his respect and delight, Trump praised the new pope with the words: “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope,” adding proudly, “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope.”
Trump didn’t hold back his anticipation for a personal meeting as well, expounding: “What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!” he continued.
JD Vance also chimed in with his best wishes for the latest head of the Catholic Church, saying: “Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election,” embracing hope for the future by commenting, “I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!”
The coronation of the new patriarch, poised to shepherd a global flock of 1.4 billion Catholics, concluded after a notably brisk conclave within the storied Vatican walls, culminating abruptly after merely four polling sessions. It was at approximately 1:30 pm.
m. EDT when the age-old sign of white smoke billowing from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel heralded the cardinals’ consensus on a new spiritual leader.
Prevost, originating from Chicago and boasting a mix of American and Peruvian heritage, has etched his name in the annals of history as the first pope hailing from America and the second from the Americas, succeeding the revered Pope Francis who died at the age of 88 on April 21.
The announcement of Prevost’s ascension to the papacy was marked by the age-old proclamation “Habemus Papum,” the Latin phrase that translates to “we have a pope.”