JD Vance hit with withering fact check by famed priest: 'You can look all that up online'

A prominent Catholic priest called out Vice President JD Vance's criticism of Pope Leo XIV's understanding of theology.

Father James Martin, who has frequently corrected the vice president's statements about the Catholic faith to which he recently converted, was astonished that Vance had warned the U.S.-born pontiff to "be careful" with his theological statements against President Donald Trump and his administration.

"Yes, he really said that," Martin posted on X.

"Yesterday Vice President JD Vance criticized Pope Leo XIV for not knowing enough theology: 'I think it's very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology ... If you’re going to opine on matters of theology, you’ve got to be careful, you’ve got to make sure it’s anchored in the truth,' he said, at a Turning Point conference."

Vance converted to Catholicism in 2019 at age 35, after a nondenominational upbringing, and he was baptized and confirmed at St. Gertrude Priory in his adopted hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, so the Jesuit priest provided a bit of a theological history lesson.

Yes, he really said that.

Yesterday Vice President JD Vance criticized Pope Leo XIV for not knowing enough theology: "I think it's very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology ... If you’re going to opine on matters of theology,… pic.twitter.com/8VWP1WpXQ4
— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) April 15, 2026