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By Jenna Sundel
News Reporter
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Cardinal Robert Prevost, who was elected as the next pope on Thursday, shared an opinion article in February criticizing a religious comment made by Vice President JD Vance.
Why It Matters
The National Catholic Reporter article shared by Prevost on X is entitled "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others." It focuses on a comment Vance made during a Fox News interview on January 29.
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"There's this old school—and I think it's a very Christian concept, by the way—that you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens and your own country, and then after that you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world," Vance said.
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The article by Kat Armas pushes back on the existence of a hierarchy of love in the Catholic religion.
"It's a framework that makes sense in a world governed by scarcity and fear, where protection comes at the expense of others," Armas wrote. "But Jesus never speaks of love as something to be rationed. He speaks of love as abundance — a table where there is enough for everyone."
Vance reacted to Leo XIV's election on X.
"Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I'm sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!" Vance wrote.
What To Know
Prevost, an American-born cardinal from Chicago, has been elected as the new pope following the death of Pope Francis earlier this year. The conclave of 133 cardinals selected Prevost, who has chosen the papal name Leo XIV, during a gathering at the Vatican on Thursday. The election marks the first time an American has been chosen as the head of the Catholic Church, a significant historical milestone.
Prevost, 69, is known for his work in church reform and pastoral care, particularly in Latin America and the United States.
He was born in 1955 in Chicago and was ordained as a priest in 1982. He later served as a bishop in Peru before being elevated to the cardinalate by Pope Francis in 2023. His work has included extensive mission outreach and advocacy for the poor, aligning him with Francis' teachings. The conclave that selected him was marked by intense discussions about the future direction of the Church, following the death of Francis at age 88 last month.
What People Are Saying
Robert Prevost, in his first words as the new Pope Leo XIV: "Peace be with you all. Dear brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts to reach your families to all people everywhere to all the earth: peace be with you."
Kat Armas, in an opinion article for National Catholic Reporter: "Jesus' point was not about prioritizing family first and neighbors second. It was about demolishing the categories that keep us from seeing each other as worthy of love in the first place. Love of family and love of neighbor are not in competition; they are part of the same holy calling."
What Happens Next
Pope Leo XIV's authority began immediately upon his selection. The announcement has been met with celebration among Catholics and others around the world.
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