JD Vance Sparks Controversy For Patting Pope Leo’s Elbow During Meeting

The U.S. Vice President is once again under fire for breaking Vatican protocol—this time during a meeting with the newly appointed Pope Leo XIV, sparking backlash from Catholic followers and observers alike.

Just last month, Vice President J.D. Vance ruffled feathers by disregarding a key Vatican rule while on sacred ground. Now, only weeks later, he’s at it again, this time during his encounter with the new pontiff, who took office on May 8 as the first American ever to lead the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV, born in Chicago, isn’t exactly a Republican favorite. After his election, old tweets surfaced revealing his critical stance toward President Donald Trump’s policies—especially on immigration and refugee treatment. In fact, the Pope even retweeted a piece calling Vance out for being “wrong” about comments he made regarding a “Christian concept.”

In response to this criticism, Vance, a Catholic convert, tried to keep things above the political fray. According to reports from The Independent, he said he avoids “playing the politicization of the Pope game.” On a radio show, he added, “I’m sure [Pope Leo] will say things I love, and probably things I disagree with. I’ll keep praying for him and the Church through it all.”

Despite that uneasy background, their Sunday meeting on May 18 caught many off guard—not for tension, but for what many are calling an overly casual interaction. After a polite handshake and brief conversation, Vance reached out and patted Pope Leo on the elbow, a gesture some say looked more like greeting an old fraternity brother than showing reverence to the leader of the Catholic Church.

Social media quickly exploded with criticism. Comments poured in describing Vance’s move as “disrespectful,” “overly familiar,” and “inappropriate.” One user likened it to “patting a puppy’s head before moving along,” while another said, “J.D. Vance made a fool of himself again at the Vatican when he tried to pat the Pope on the shoulder like they were drinking buddies.”

Vatican protocol is famously strict. According to MetroWest, meeting the Pope requires conservative attire—men in suits and ties, women in knee-length dresses or suits—and visitors must wait to be introduced and only speak when spoken to, addressing the pontiff as “Your Holiness.” Most importantly, no touching is allowed unless explicitly invited, such as a handshake or a kiss of the papal ring.

One critic summed it up: “Why on earth is @JDVance touching the Pope by his shoulder? It’s a huge breach of protocol. His manners are beyond awful.”

This isn’t Vance’s first stumble in the Vatican. During an April visit with the late Pope Francis—who passed away hours later at 88—Vance snapped photos inside the Sistine Chapel, a major no-no since photography and electronics are strictly banned in the sacred site. Social media accused him of “basically giving God the finger” with his blatant disregard.

The White House has yet to respond to requests for comment on these latest incidents. Meanwhile, the Vice President’s repeated lapses continue to fuel controversy and raise questions about his respect for one of the world’s most revered institutions.