During his first international press conference at the Vatican on Monday, Pope Leo was met with a flurry of questions as he made his way through a crowd of reporters.
The pontiff spoke on the value of free speech and a free press, expressing gratitude to journalists for their coverage of the papal election. He underscored the importance of having an informed public, stating that it is essential for making wise decisions about international policy, according to NewsNation.
At one point, NewsNation correspondent Robert Sherman asked if Pope Leo had any message for the United States. The Pope responded succinctly: “Many.” He then added, “God bless you all.”
The brevity of his reply quickly drew attention and went viral online, with many interpreting it as a subtle rebuke to the United States. Some linked it to past criticisms Pope Leo made as Cardinal Robert Prevost.
In 2015, following Donald Trump’s announcement of his presidential run and his proposal to “build a wall,” Cardinal Prevost retweeted an op-ed titled, Why Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic.
Pope Leo also publicly criticized Senator JD Vance for comments he made on Fox News regarding Christianity and immigration. Vance had outlined a tiered approach to love and responsibility, saying one should first love their family, then neighbors, community, fellow citizens, and finally, people abroad.
“JD Vance is wrong,” Pope Leo said. “Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”
Following backlash, Vance defended his stance on social media by referencing the Christian concept of “ordo amoris,” or “the order of love,” writing, “Just google ‘ordo amoris.’ Aside from that, the idea that there isn’t a hierarchy of obligations violates basic common sense.”
Days later, Cardinal Prevost shared a Jesuit article titled, Pope Francis’ letter, JD Vance’s ‘ordo amoris’ and what the Gospel asks of all of us on immigration, adding fuel to the debate.
As speculation swirled around Pope Leo’s latest comment, The Daily Mail reported that some observers believed he may have misheard the question, possibly interpreting it as a request for a blessing for the U.S.—which would make his “God bless you all” response more straightforward and less controversial.
