JD Vance tells Vatican to stay out of politics, focus on church, morality

US Vice President JD Vance has called on the Vatican to concentrate on matters of morality and the Catholic Church, urging it to refrain from political involvement.

Speaking to Fox News, Vance commented on the growing tensions between Pope Leo XIV and US President Donald Trump, Caliber.Az reports.

“In some cases, it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality, to stick to matters of what's going on in the Catholic Church and let the President of the United States stick to dictating American public policy,” Vance said.

On April 12, during a speech at St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope condemned what he described as the “delusion of omnipotence” fueling the US-Israeli war in Iran.

He called on politicians to stop attempting to demonstrate strength and to bring an end to all wars.

His remarks drew criticism from Trump, who statet that without him, the pontiff would not be in the Vatican.

The US president also claimed that the Church had included Prevost among papal candidates primarily because he is American, arguing that this would help improve relations with Washington.

In response, Leo XIV later said he is not afraid of the White House administration and will continue to speak out, including on the war in Iran.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov