JD Vance has been criticized for “breaking protocol” after performing a gesture that some deemed “inappropriate” when meeting pope leo.
The Vice President met the new Pontiff on Sunday 18 May during the inauguration.
The Chicago-born pope Leo , who made history as the first American pontiff, was elected on May 8.
Almost immediately, old retweets of his began circulating, showing a clear pattern of criticism aimed at Republican politics—particularly policies backed by President Donald Trump .
The 69-year-old pope had posted numerous statements opposing Trump-era immigration policies and the U.S. government’s treatment of refugees.
In one instance, he even retweeted an article slamming Vance himself, saying the VP was “wrong” about a particular “Christian concept.”
Vance responded to the apparent criticism by saying: “I try not to play the politicization of the Pope game,” as reported by the independent.
Speaking further on a radio show, he added: “I’m sure [Pope Leo] he’s going to say a lot of things that I love. I’m sure he’ll say some things that I disagree with, but I’ll continue to pray for him and the Church despite it all and through it all.”
So when Vance met with the new pope in St. Peter’s Basilica after the papal inauguration mass, many anticipated a potentially tense exchange. But instead, Vance appeared to go too far in the other direction.
After an initial handshake and brief conversation, Vance reached out and lightly patted Pope Leo on the elbow—a move social media users quickly labeled “overly familiar and inappropriate.”
One critic wrote: “J.D. Vance embarrassed himself again at the Vatican when he attempted to pat Pope Leo XIV on the shoulder like a drinking buddy in St. Peter’s Basilica after the papal inauguration mass.”
Another viewer called the gesture “almost condescending” and likened it to “patting a puppy’s head before moving along.”
According to metro west, visiting the Vatican comes with its own rulebook—one that draws parallels to royal protocol.
Conservative dress is expected, with men wearing suits and ties, and women opting for modest dresses or suits. Guests must wait to be introduced and only speak when spoken to, referring to the pope as “Your Holiness.”
Perhaps most importantly: no touching. Outside of a handshake or a kiss on the papal ring, physical contact is strictly off-limits—unless explicitly invited.
This latest moment comes on the heels of another controversy involving Vance and the Vatican. In April, during a visit with the late Pope Francis—who passed away hours later at age 88 from a stroke—Vance visited the Sistine Chapel and posted pictures from inside.
That alone sparked a wave of criticism, since all photography and electronic devices are strictly prohibited in the chapel, which houses Michelangelo’s famed ceiling murals and serves as the sacred venue for papal conclave.
