Following the passing of Pope Francis in late April at age 88, the Catholic Church appointed Robert Prevost as the new pontiff, taking the papal name Pope Leo XIV. Almost immediately, this new chapter brought unexpected controversy—especially for Ohio’s Vice President JD Vance, who has found himself at the center of a remarkable clash with the Holy See.
Pope Leo XIV’s Unapologetic Dissent
Barely weeks into his papacy, Pope Leo XIV made waves on social media, revealing a surprisingly critical stance toward Vance. Old tweets, dating back just a few months before his elevation, surfaced quickly, showcasing the Pope’s sharp disapproval of Vance’s views and policies. On February 3, the new pontiff retweeted an article from the National Catholic Reporter titled “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.” This was a pointed critique of Vance’s controversial ideas on love and societal priorities.
The Pope didn’t stop there. On February 13, he retweeted a piece from America Magazine that explored Pope Francis’ letter, Vance’s concept of ordo amoris—a “ranking of loves”—and the Christian attitude toward immigration. Notably, his most recent retweet on April 14 directly challenged the immigration policies advocated by both Vance and former President Donald Trump.
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Users on the social platform X (formerly Twitter) gleefully jumped on these posts, celebrating what they deemed a holy “smackdown” of the politician. Many joked about Vance’s thin support among Catholics and used humorous hashtags and memes to highlight this growing divide. One user quipped, “Good news everyone, the new pope still hates JD Vance,” while another mused, “The red hat confused them—they thought he was already on their side.”
Wild Rumors and Online Banter: Vance ‘Blamed’ for Pope Francis’ Death
Social media chatter took a darker, though satirical, turn following Vance’s meeting with the late Pope Francis on Easter Sunday, April 20. In a coincidence that sparked bizarre theories, Pope Francis passed away the very next day. The timing led to a wild swirling of rumors, with some online commentators humorously blaming Vance for the pope’s death.
Addressing the passing with a public message, Vance posted on X, “My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.” He further noted, “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill,” subtly trying to distance himself from the internet’s cynical narratives.
Trolls, however, were quick to flood the replies with dark jokes. One quipped, “Poor guy died of cringe after meeting you,” while others warned the new Pope Leo XIV to keep a safe distance from Vance for his own well-being. The atmosphere on social media was electric, filled with a mix of humor, skepticism, and occasional concern.
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Speculation ran rampant about why Pope Leo XIV appeared so outspoken against Vance. Some joked that the new pope’s resentment ran deeper, insinuating, half in jest, that Vance’s meeting with Francis had more dire consequences than anyone could have imagined. “He probably hates him even more now that he murdered his predecessor,” one user joked, underscoring the surreal blending of political controversy and internet meme culture.
As Pope Leo XIV solidifies his papacy, his public positions—especially on figures like JD Vance—signal potential shifts in the tone between the Catholic Church’s leadership and American political figures. Whether this tension carries broader implications beyond Twitter remains to be seen, but for now, Vance finds himself on the wrong side of a surprisingly vocal and viral papal rebuke.
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