The vice president addressed tensions between the White House and the Vatican, saying disagreements on policy are expected.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that while the United States maintains respect for the Vatican, disagreements between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV on public policy are not a major concern and should be expected.

Speaking in a televised interview, Vance commented on recent differences between Trump and the Pope regarding issues such as immigration and foreign policy. He said that while mutual respect remains, policy decisions should ultimately rest with elected officials in the United States.

“We can respect the Pope. We certainly have a good relationship with the Vatican. But we’re also going to disagree on substantive questions from time to time,” Vance said.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism, added that such disagreements are “not particularly newsworthy,” emphasizing that differing perspectives between religious and political leadership are not unusual.

He further stated that the Pope’s role should center on moral guidance rather than governance. “Let the president of the United States stick to dictating American public policy. But when they are in conflict, they are in conflict. I don’t worry about it too much,” Vance said.

The vice president also addressed a social media post by Trump that drew attention online. According to Vance, the image was intended as a joke but was misinterpreted by some viewers. He said the president removed the post after recognizing the confusion, as noted in remarks made during a Fox News interview.

Trump had previously stated that the image was meant to depict him as a doctor, not as a religious figure.

The comments come amid broader discussions about the role of religious leaders in political discourse and ongoing debates over policy positions related to international affairs and immigration.