Italian
In a new statement published on platform X, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has changed the tone of his previous remarks towards Pope Leo XIV, thanking him for some recent statements and highlighting the complexity of the relationship between political communication, media, and public morality
Washington (USA) . “I am grateful to Pope Leo for saying this. While the media narrative constantly fuels conflicts – and yes, there have been and will be real disagreements – the reality is often much more complicated,” Vance wrote, marking a partial shift in tone from the criticisms expressed in the previous days.
The vice president, who converted to Catholicism about seven years ago, also commented on the role of the pope in contemporary public debate, acknowledging that the pope’s intervention on moral issues falls within his spiritual function: “Since the Pope preaches the Gospel, as he should, this inevitably means that he offers his opinions on current moral issues.”
The statements come after some verbal tensions related to the positions expressed by the Pope on war, migration, and international politics. Previously, Vance had argued that the Pope should limit himself to moral issues, leaving the management of public policies to elected governments, even suggesting caution in his intervention on theological and political themes.
In a television interview given to Turning Point USA, the vice president also expressed appreciation for the role of the pope as a voice of peace, while stating that he does not agree with all of his positions: “There are certainly things the Pope has said in recent months that I do not agree with,” he stated.
In his most recent message, Vance sought a more conciliatory tone, emphasizing the role of the U.S. administration in the global context: “The president and his entire administration are working to apply these moral principles in a world in chaos. He will be in our prayers and I hope we will be in his.”
The statements come at a time of particular diplomatic attention, as the vice president is expected to lead the American delegation in the second round of peace talks with Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The comparison between U.S. politics and religious authority continues to navigate a delicate terrain, where public language alternates between tensions and openings, reflecting the complexity of the relationships between spiritual leadership and political power in the contemporary international context.
