Sky News host Andrew Bolt says US Vice President JD Vance got a “cold reception” at his meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. Tens of thousands of well-wishers have gathered to witness Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration Mass.
“That’s, of course, after the Pope some time back corrected Vance on X when Vance ridiculously suggested the Bible told us to love our own more than we love our neighbors and to love our neighbours more than we love strangers,” Mr Bolt said.
“I suspect the Pope also hated the way Vance and Trump bullied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, because the Pope then gave a private audience to Zelensky, but not to Vance.”
But the entire post-mass exchange only lasted 17 seconds.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo met privately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra after celebrating the historic inauguration.
The Pope also shared articles that addressed Vance’s stance on immigration. One of them was titled: ‘JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.’
His last retweet, on April 14, slammed the Trump administration’s deportation of undocumented migrant and Maryland father-of-three Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 30, to El Salvador.
The post reads: ‘Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?’
Republicans against Trump shared another clip and wrote: “JD Vance, joined by his wife, Usha Vance, met Pope Leo XIV following the pontiff’s inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Square. What do you notice?
Another account wrote: “The pope’s face after JD left…Ben Affleck vibes.”
“The way Pope Leo XIV just shooed JD Vance and his wife away with a single hand gesture telling them to move along is hilarious.”
“The Pope gave a polite wave, and kept it moving. No blessing, no embrace, no endorsement. Just a diplomatic “okay, bye!” You can almost hear the papal side-eye.”
“Did the Pope shudder after Vance left? That casual grabbing of the Pope’s arm like they’re bros was cringey. Show some respect.”
“The little readjustment after they turned to walk away was like the Pope was shaking off the evil he had just touched.”
“JD needs some help in his faith. The Pope is not his business associate. Good grief.”
“He taps him on his shoulder like his buddy, not like the successor of St. Peter and the Vicar of Christ on earth. Please pray our Church returns to some remembrance of the importance of hierarchy.”
Related: JD Vance’s mishaps nailed by Garry Kasparov – checkmate reactions
