The Patrick Madrid Show Why Did VP Vance Not Kiss Pope Leo's Ring? (Special Podcast Highlight)
The Caller’s Question:
Tyler from Santa Barbara phoned into The Patrick Madrid Show with a simple but important question:
“Why didn’t Vice President JD Vance kiss Pope Leo’s ring?”
Patrick’s Take: Not a Sin, Just a Skip
Patrick handled it with his usual blend of insight, clarity, and wisdom. Here’s the gist:
There are diplomatic protocols at play when you're dealing with heads of state. JD Vance, while not a head of state himself, is pretty high up there, so formalities might have been planned in advance.
Kissing the pope’s ring isn’t required. It’s a beautiful tradition, yes, but not a divine commandment. It came about in the Middle Ages. So, Vance skipping it is not a sin. Not disrespectful. Just… not traditional.
Giving Grace
Patrick gently reminded us:
JD Vance is a new convert to Catholicism. He didn’t grow up in Catholic culture, so ring-kissing might be unfamiliar or even feel a bit odd to him.
He’s from a very humble, rural background, and some of his choices may still reflect that down-to-earth, “no-frills” sensibility.
The American Factor
Patrick also pointed out a larger cultural angle:
The U.S. has a strong anti-aristocracy streak, going way back. That “no kings, no crowns” mindset could subtly influence even how Catholic leaders act, especially on the world stage.
There's still anti-Catholic sentiment in parts of the U.S., and Vance may have wanted to avoid fueling any fire or being seen as overly deferential to a “foreign prince.”