‘A pope who uses his brain’: Vatican locals and visitors take sides in Leo v Trump spat

In the United States on 14 April 2026, JD Vance told Pope Leo XIV to 'stick to matters of morality' and to be 'careful when he talks about matters of theology'. Fox News quoted him as saying the pope should stay out of US public policy. Vance's comments came after an attack on the pope by Trump.

Pope Leo said, according to La Repubblica, that 'God is not with the bullies'. Vatican visitors criticised Trump over his attacks on Pope Leo's message of peace, and locals and visitors in Rome took sides in the dispute.