JD Vance is set to travel to Rome for a three-day trip that includes high-level meetings at the Vatican. The presidential surrogate will enter a Holy See some Trump supporters deride as the home of a "woke" pope. The trip also comes amid deep divisions in the American Catholic Church.
The relationship between Vice President Vance and the Catholic Church, particularly with Pope Francis, is marked by tension over issues like immigration policies. Vance has criticized U.S. bishops for resisting Trump administration crackdowns on immigration. Meanwhile, Pope Francis has challenged deportation policies and emphasized caring for all people through his teachings. Despite this, Vance acknowledges differences but also praises the pope as a great pastor. Both sides attempt to find common ground, especially regarding certain social policies. The pope's teachings are multifaceted and cannot be neatly categorized into political ideologies.