Vice President JD Vance is praising the newly released first encyclical of Pope Leo XIV, describing Magnifica Humanitas as a thoughtful response to the moral challenges facing the modern world.
In an interview with NBC News on May 26, Vance said he had not yet completed the entire encyclical, but what he had read left a strong impression. According to EWTN News, the vice president called the document “profound” and said it reflected what Catholics would hope to see from the Holy Father.
“What I read of it sounds very profound, and the sort of thing that you would expect and hope from a leader of the Church,” Vance said, according to EWTN News.
The encyclical, released May 25, is the first major teaching document of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate and has already sparked discussion among Catholics, theologians, and political leaders around the world. The Holy Father addresses questions surrounding morality, human dignity, technology, warfare, and Catholic social teaching in an increasingly complex global culture.
Vance suggested that the pope’s message recognizes that while eternal truths remain unchanged, the Church must continue applying those truths to new realities.
“The thing about morality is that the principles never change, but the way you apply those principles does, because the world changes, right?” Vance said, according to EWTN News.
He pointed specifically to developments in technology and modern conflict as areas requiring renewed moral reflection.
“You have new technologies and warfare, so you have to update ‘just war’ doctrine,” he said. “New ways of human beings interacting with one another, so you have to kind of rethink the entire Catholic social teaching in light of the new world that we live in. And I think that’s exactly what the pope is trying to do. So I’m glad that he did it.”
Vance, who converted to the Catholic faith in 2019, has occasionally expressed disagreement with some Vatican commentary on geopolitical matters. According to EWTN News, he previously suggested that while it is important for the pope to speak about moral concerns, “in some cases it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality” while elected leaders handle public policy decisions.
At the same time, the vice president has continued to express admiration for Pope Leo XIV personally, saying he respects the Holy Father and appreciates “that the pope is an advocate for peace.”
For many Catholics, the release of Magnifica Humanitas marks an important moment early in Pope Leo XIV’s papacy, as the Church seeks to guide the faithful through rapid cultural and technological change while remaining rooted in the timeless truths of the Gospel.
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