The Vice President and his wife appeared grateful to witness the inaugural Mass, sharing a sweet moment during the service.
Vice President JD Vance’s encounter with Pope Leo XIV during the new pontiff’s inaugural Mass has sparked a flurry of online reactions. While the brief meeting seemed cordial on the surface, viewers were quick to pick apart everything from body language to what they saw as a lack of reverence.
Vance and his wife were among the political and religious leaders who attended the historic Mass in Vatican City, marking the beginning of Pope Leo’s papacy, the first time an American has held the role. Despite the pontiff’s past criticism of the Trump administration, the couple took part in the ceremony, which drew international attention.
After the Mass, the 69-year-old pope offered a quick greeting to the Vice President and his wife. In a brief 17-second exchange, the two sides shook hands and exchanged a few words. A video clip captured the moment, showing Pope Leo nodding politely as Vance spoke.
However, what might have seemed like a standard diplomatic gesture became a hot topic online. Viewers took issue with how the meeting ended when Vance gave the pope a friendly pat on the shoulder, a gesture many found far too casual for the successor of the late Pope Francis.
Social media users scrutinized everything from Vance’s approach to what they perceived as a cold reaction from the pope and even his limited interaction with Usha Vance. One viewer didn’t hold back, bluntly stating, “Very disrespectful @JDVance.” Someone else weighed in, “JD needs some help in his faith. The Pope is not his business associate. Good grief.”
Another commenter analyzed the moment closely, “JD seemed a bit conflicted, one could tell. He didn’t know if he was to do this like he was the boss, or like where prevost was the boss. He was clearly awkward. Notice the shrug of the shoulders by prevost after JD passes on [sic].”
Another person took issue with the informality, noting, “He taps him on his shoulder like his buddy, not like the successor of St. Peter and the Vicar of Christ on earth. Please pray our Church returns to some remembrance of the importance of hierarchy.”
Some people focused on the pontiff’s demeanor, writing, “The body language by the pope was a bit cold there. Ouch?” From a different angle, someone pointed out, “It looked like the pope disregarded Mrs. Vance. Shaking hands and looking elsewhere. Nope. Not feeling it.”
A commenter delved into the subtleties, “Body language is everything. Our VPOTUS was warm in greeting him. He shrugs heavily when he and SLOTUS turn to leave. How telling and disrespectful. He’s not fooling anyone. Certainly not me.” And finally, one user summed it up harshly with, “Wow the pope was so ungracious.”
Despite the online chatter surrounding his brief interaction with Pope Leo XIV, Vance has shown no signs of discomfort. He posted a photo of himself and his wife, Usha, at the Mass and wrote, “It was an honor to join so many of the faithful at the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV this morning!”
Another picture shared from the event showed the couple kissing during the Holy Mass, a moment that reflected how at ease they were throughout the occasion.
During their trip, Vance and Usha also went to pay their respects to the late Pope Francis. Sharing the moment online, Vance wrote, “Today, Usha and I visited the tomb of the late Holy Father Pope Francis. He was beloved by many Catholics around the world, and I hope you will join me in praying for the repose of his soul.”
Later that day, Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. He posted, “This afternoon, Secretary Rubio and I met with President Zelensky. Our countries share the goal of ending unnecessary bloodshed in Ukraine, and we discussed updates on the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and lasting peace.”
Both JD Vance and Pope Leo appear to share a strong commitment to peace, a theme that resonated throughout the pontiff’s inaugural Mass. As global tensions and humanitarian crises continue to unfold, the pope used the occasion to urge unity and compassion in the face of division, hatred, and inequality.
He emphasized the need for healing in a world scarred by violence, prejudice, and economic systems that exploit both the planet and its most vulnerable people.
Calling for a collective movement toward communion and fraternity, the pontiff encouraged people of all backgrounds, Christians, those of other faiths, and the spiritually curious, to walk a shared path of reconciliation and hope.
The pope called for openness and solidarity rather than isolation or moral superiority. He underlined the importance of building bridges across different cultures, histories, and beliefs, offering God’s love as a unifying force that respects and celebrates diversity rather than erasing it.
Formerly known as Father Robert Prevost, Pope Leo has a history of speaking out against atrocities. He has also previously taken a shot at both Donald Trump and Vance. This criticism began well before he ascended to the papacy.
The pontiff has been particularly vocal about the Trump administration’s immigration policies, repeatedly condemning its approach as lacking compassion and moral responsibility.
In the hours after his election, a series of old tweets resurfaced, revealing sharp criticism of US political figures notably Vance.
One now-deleted tweet read, “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others,” linking to an article from National Catholic Reporter. Another deleted tweet criticized Vance’s interpretation of religious duty in the context of immigration.
The pope’s stance on immigration was further highlighted by comments from his brother, John Prevost, who shared insight into Pope Leo’s private convictions.
“I don’t think he’ll stay quiet for too long if he has something to say,” Prevost noted. “I know he’s not happy with what’s going on with immigration. I know that for a fact. How far he’ll go with it is only one’s guess, but he won’t just sit back. I don’t think he’ll be the silent one.”
Furthermore, in his first Sunday noon blessing, on May 11, Pope Leo delivered a direct and urgent appeal to the world’s most powerful nations, calling for peace in war-torn regions and justice for the oppressed.
The address, delivered from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, marked the new pontiff’s first public message since assuming the papacy and drew a crowd of nearly 100,000 faithful to Vatican City. “I, too, address the world’s great powers by repeating the ever-present call ‘never again war,'” Pope Leo declared, his voice echoing across the packed square.
The pope’s message centered on two of the globe’s most volatile conflicts: Ukraine and Gaza. Drawing on the words of his predecessor, Pope Francis, he described today’s world as caught in a “third world war in pieces.”
“I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people,” Pope Leo said. “Whatever is possible be done to reach an authentic true and lasting peace as quickly as possible.”
He called for the release of prisoners of war and the safe return of Ukrainian children displaced by the conflict. He also praised a ceasefire recently reached between India and Pakistan — a rare point of optimism in a speech that otherwise underscored the weight of ongoing global unrest.
Turning to the Middle East, Pope Leo made an urgent plea for a halt to the violence in Gaza. He urged for an immediate ceasefire, calling for humanitarian aid to reach civilians and for all hostages to be released. He also asked for relief to be extended to the exhausted civilian population.
Sunday’s appearance was rich in symbolism. From his gestures on the balcony to his deliberate invocation of unity in a fractured Catholic Church, Pope Leo seemed intent on positioning his papacy as one of reconciliation and bold truth-telling.