Mike Pence faces backlash for calling Pope Francis holy father and criticizing Trump

Over the weekend, former Vice President Mike Pence ignited criticism after referring to Pope Francis as “the Holy Father” in a post on X.

This sparked a flurry of reactions, with some commentators accusing him of endorsing Roman Catholicism, which stands in contrast to his Evangelical Protestant background.

The moment Vice President @Mike_Pence met Pope Francis. #VPintheVatican #USHolySee (Credit: Vatican Media) pic.twitter.com/C2C0pCGYkM

— U.S. in Holy See (@USinHolySee) January 24, 2020

Pence expressed his admiration for the Pope, sharing, “One of my greatest honors as Vice President was the hour I spent with Pope Francis at the Vatican in January 2020,” and adding, “Karen and I join Catholics around the world praying for this humble and godly man. God Bless the Holy Father.”

Interestingly, Pence was once a Roman Catholic himself but transitioned to Evangelical Christianity during his college years, a shift that adds complexity to his recent remarks.

The backlash was quick, with author Megan Basham tweeting her dismay, pointing out that the evangelical community had previously cautioned against disrespecting Pence’s Protestant identity.

In response, John Shelton, who works with Americans Advancing Freedom, defended Pence, stating that “’Holy Father’ is a standard address for official US communiques to/concerning the pope regardless of denomination.”

Basham retorted that while respect for the papal office is important, using specific titles can conflict with Protestant beliefs.

She contended, “I think Protestants should simply respect the office by calling him by his appropriate title—Pope Francis—without using terminology that entirely conflicts with Protestant doctrine.”

Tom Buck, a pastor from Texas, weighed in by arguing that Pence could have expressed his support for the Pope without compromising his faith’s teachings.

He criticized Pence’s approach, stating, “He’s not godly because he denies salvation by grace alone through faith alone and actively works to send hundreds of thousands to Hell with him.”

Adding to the criticism, Justin Peters expressed disappointment at Pence’s acknowledgment of the Pope, reinforcing that there is only one true “Holy Father.”

As Matthew 23:9 was cited by several users, the verse emphasizes calling no one on earth a father, which resonated with many commentators.

Coincidentally, Pence’s papal reference also came on the same day he was criticized for endorsing an op-ed that seemed to call out Trump, suggesting his political stance is more contentious than ever.

Republican strategist Andrew Surabian and Donald Trump Jr. added further commentary, suggesting Pence’s political standing has waned in comparison to others, highlighting a growing rift within the party.

Pence’s position remains precarious after being the first candidate to bow out of the 2024 Republican primary and not backing Trump when he emerged as the nominee.