Vice President JD Vance faced harsh criticism on Wednesday after he said he didn’t know a top-ranking official in the Catholic Church.
During a press conference in Budapest, Hungary, Vance was asked about a report from the publication “The Free Press,” led by Bari Weiss.
The report mentioned that senior military leaders had invited Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who served as the U.S. Apostolic Nuncio until March 2026, to the Pentagon. They told him the church should support Trump’s actions in Iran.
Vance, who describes himself as a devout Catholic and is set to release a book about his faith journey, surprised many with his response.
“For one, with no disrespect to the Cardinal, I don’t know who Cardinal Christophe Pierre is,” he said.
The reporter reminded him that Pierre is the ambassador to the Holy See and the U.S.
“Oh … right, right,” Vance said.
“I just didn’t remember the name.”
Political analysts and observers shared their reactions online.
“Screaming at the fact that the Catholic Church leadership hates Vance more than that monkey troupe hated Punch,” actress Jennifer Kirton wrote on Bluesky.
“Why would Vance know about a high-ranking Catholic leader with ties to DC?
It’s not like Vance is a recent convert who wrote a forthcoming book about the importance of his Catholic faith,” jeopardy champion Hemant Mehta posted on X.
“But… you’re Catholic…” actress Morgan Fairchild posted on X.
“Come on Pope Leo, excommunicate his a–!
” astrophysicist Alfredo Carpineti wrote on Bluesky. “I want him to have to beg for forgiveness like Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV in the snow for three days.”
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