Pope Leo XIV sent 'peace offering' by JD Vance despite 'anti-MAGA' tweets

US Vice President JD Vance has shown his support forPope Leo XIV, despite the American cardinal's history of criticising MAGA policies and Vance's stance on religion.

was selected tonight by the conclave to be the first North American leader of the Catholic church. Just months before his selection, though, he shared on an X account. Despite this, both Vance and President have sent their regards to the new leader, with Vance writing 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!"

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In February, the new Pope shared an article in which Vance was called "wrong" for his comments made on Christian love, and how ideals such as family values are ranked in people's minds. As of today, the post has been viewed more than 3.5 million times as it was widely circulated following his selection as the new pope.

Prior to Vance's post, Trump took to his Truth Social account to share his views on the first North American pope, calling it a "great honour". Writing on his social media platform, the Republican said: "Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope.

"It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"

The new pope has been active online for the last decade, often sharing his views on Trump's second term as president by sharing articles and reposting from others. His latest repost on X was a criticism of Trump's inflammatory immigration crackdown from Catholic commentator Rocco Palmo.

"JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others", read the headline of the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) article read. The article discusses the online debate after JD Vance said in a Fox News interview: "There is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbour, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after thatprioritise the rest of the , A lot of the far left has completely inverted that."

Writer Kat Aarmas argued: "There's no doubt that Scripture speaks to our responsibility for family and community. But when it comes to something being "biblical", we have to be careful. Nearly anything can be found in Scripture if you're looking for it - stories of war, oppression, miracles and love, all written by people grappling with what it means to be faithful. The Bible is not a rigid manual but a living testimony of human wrestling with the divine."

With the white smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel chimney at around 6pm local time this evening (5pm UK time), the decision came faster than many were expecting. Around an hour and a half after the smoke billowed over St Peter's Square, people got their first view of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV.

The Chicago-bon pope will be the first North American leader of the church and at 69-years-old, he is seven years younger than Pope Francis was when he was selected. Some had speculated that cardinals might not choose such a young – by the standards of pope – new leader whose reign was likely to be lengthy.

But his 132 peers in the secret conclave meeting took just 24 hours to choose Cardinal Prevost, elevating him to the position as head of the world’s 1.4 billion-member Church. An Augustinian friar, the new Pope is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.

Pope Francis had been outspoken against war and division, and with his first words Pope Leo indicated he will follow suit. He told the huge crowds in St Peter’s Square “Peace be with you,” as he preached a message of peace, dialogue and missionary evangelisation.

Contrary to Pope Francis however, he did wear the traditional red cape of the papacy – something declined by his predecessor, who constantly shunned luxuries and extravagances associated with his role. The new Pope had been prefect of the Vatican’s powerful Dicastery for Bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world.

He was sent by Pope Francis in 2014 to run the diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, before bringing him to Rome in 2023. The new Pope has also been president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, a part of the world which retains a strong Catholic following.