Vice President JD Vance publicly thanked Pope Leo XIV on Saturday after the first U.S.-born pontiff clarified that he has no interest in engaging in a public debate with President Donald Trump over the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The comments came during Pope Leo’s papal visit to Africa.
While aboard a flight from Cameroon to Angola on Saturday, the pope addressed media coverage of a speech he delivered in Cameroon, criticizing those who “manipulate religion” for political and military gain. He stated the remarks had been prepared two weeks earlier, well before President Trump’s public comments on the pope’s message of peace.
“And yet, as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate, again, the president, which is not my interest at all,” Pope Leo said. “So, we go on the journey. We continue proclaiming the gospel message.”