U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said he disagrees with the Vatican’s stance on immigration, arguing that Pope Leo XIV’s views on the issue are concerning.
He made the remarks after Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Catholic Church and the first American to lead the Vatican, repeatedly expressed his disapproval of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration’s tough immigration policies.
Pope Leo XIV has called for “deeper reflection” on how immigrants are treated in the United States, criticizing the immigration policies of President Donald Trump’s administration and describing them as “inappropriate” and not in line with human rights standards.
In an interview with Fox News, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that, although he is a Catholic, he does not agree with the Vatican’s position on immigration policy.
Vance also said he does not support the Vatican’s continued criticism of U.S. immigration policy, urging Church leaders to engage in dialogue rather than confrontation on the issue.
On the other hand, Pope Leo XIV has continued to criticize some of Trump’s policies, including those related to security and international cooperation. The Vatican also declined to join the proposed “Board of Peace” initiative concerning the Gaza issue.
These ongoing disagreements between the Vatican and Washington highlight a significant divide over how immigration should be handled—between a human rights-based approach and stricter border control policies.
