Politics and religion are messy. When you mix the Vatican's ancient protocols with the high-stakes theater of American elections, you're basically asking for a media firestorm. That’s exactly what happened when Vice President JD Vance flew to Rome to meet the newly elected Pope Leo XIV.
The headlines were everywhere. "The Snub Heard Round the World." "Pope Leo Shuns American VP." Honestly, if you only looked at the viral 17-second clips on X, you’d think the Holy Father basically told Vance to get lost. But the truth is way more nuanced—and a lot more interesting—than a simple "snub."
The Moment Everyone Is Talking About
Let’s set the scene. It’s May 2025. St. Peter’s Basilica is packed. Pope Leo XIV, the Chicago-born Augustinian formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, has just finished his inaugural Mass. He’s the first American pope, and the Trump administration is clearly eager to claim a win.
As Vance and his wife, Usha, approached the Pope in the greeting line, the interaction was... blink-and-you-miss-it. Leo XIV shook hands, nodded, and moved to the next person in about 15 seconds.
The internet lost its mind. Critics pointed to the Pope's "set jaw" and "dismissive" hand gestures. They called it a cold shoulder. Some even compared it to a "shooing" motion. But was it actually a snub?
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Actually, protocol experts will tell you that the Pope had to greet delegations from 156 different countries. If he spent five minutes with every world leader, he’d still be in that basilica today. It wasn't just Vance; almost everyone got the "fast-track" treatment.
What Really Happened Behind Closed Doors
While the Sunday handshake looked chilly, the Monday morning meeting told a different story. Vance arrived at the Vatican at 7:56 a.m. for a private audience in the Apostolic Palace library. This wasn't some hallway chat; it was a full-on diplomatic sit-down that lasted 45 minutes.
Vance brought gifts that were specifically chosen to bridge the gap:
- A Chicago Bears jersey: A nod to the Pope’s hometown, featuring "Pope Leo XIV" on the back.
- Works of St. Augustine: Specifically The City of God and On Christian Doctrine. Since Leo is an Augustinian, this was a high-level theological peace offering.
- A Letter from Trump: An official invitation for the Pope to visit the United States.
Leo's response to the invitation? A cryptic "at some point." Not a "yes," but definitely not the door-slamming "no" the media predicted.
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The Elephant in the Room: Immigration
You can’t talk about these two without talking about the border. Before he was elected, Leo XIV (as Cardinal Prevost) was pretty vocal on social media. He’d shared articles calling out Vance’s immigration rhetoric.
In one famous post, he shared a piece titled, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others." This was a direct response to Vance using the theological concept of ordo amoris—the order of love—to justify "America First" policies.
The Vatican statement after their meeting was "cordial" but firm. They talked about "international law" and the "dignity of migrants." It's clear they didn't suddenly become best friends, but the "snub" narrative ignores the fact that they actually sat down and did the work of diplomacy.
Why the Ring-Kissing Mattered (Or Didn't)
There was another "mini-scandal" during the trip: Vance didn't kiss the Pope's ring. For some traditional Catholics, this was a sign of disrespect. For Vance's critics, it was proof of his "America First" ego.
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Vance actually addressed this later in an interview with Ross Douthat. He basically said he was trying to balance being a faithful Catholic with being a representative of a secular republic. He didn't want to look like he was subservient to a foreign sovereign while representing the U.S. government. It’s a tension Catholic politicians have dealt with since JFK, but in the social media age, everything gets magnified.
The Relationship in 2026
Fast forward to today, January 2026. The dust has settled a bit, but the friction remains. Vance is still a regular speaker at pro-life events, like the upcoming March for Life, which aligns him perfectly with the Vatican. But on issues like the mass deportation of migrants, he and Pope Leo are on completely different planets.
The Vatican hasn't "canceled" Vance. In fact, U.S. bishops just met with him and President Trump a few days ago to discuss "areas of mutual concern." It’s a complicated, "it's complicated" relationship status.
Actionable Insights for Following Vatican-U.S. Relations
If you're trying to cut through the noise of future "snub" headlines, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Official Communiqués: Viral clips are great for clicks, but the Vatican Press Office releases formal statements after private audiences. If the word "cordial" is used, it usually means they disagreed but stayed polite.
- Contextualize the Protocol: A brief handshake in a line of 200 people is never a snub. A canceled private audience is.
- Follow the Appointees: Watch who Pope Leo XIV appoints to key U.S. dioceses. That’s where the real "snubs" or "endorsements" happen. If he starts appointing bishops who are openly hostile to the administration's policies, that tells you more than a 15-second handshake ever could.
- Theological Nuance: When the Pope talks about the "Good Samaritan," he's often speaking directly to the "America First" debate without naming names.
The idea that Pope Leo "snubbed" Vance makes for a great tweet, but the reality is a high-level chess match between two very different visions of what it means to be a "good Catholic" in the modern world.