Pope Francis Hospitalized For Bronchitis
It’s not every day that the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church finds himself tangled in an online spat between the Vice President of the United States and a British podcaster, but here we are. In what appears to be an extraordinary rebuke of the Trump administration, Pope Francis has waded into American politics, condemning the White House’s immigration policies and, in doing so, taking direct aim at J.D. Vance—a devout Catholic and regular Mass-goer.
The controversy stems from a heated exchange between Vance and Rory Stewart, the former British politician turned commentator. Vance, citing St. Augustine’s concept of ordo amoris—a philosophical framework that prioritizes love and duty to family and nation before outsiders—argued that immigration policy should reflect a natural hierarchy of obligations. Stewart, unimpressed, dismissed the argument, only to have Vance fire back: “Google ‘ordo amoris.’”
But just days later, Pope Francis weighed in with a strikingly pointed letter to U.S. bishops, countering Vance’s position and condemning what he called “mass deportations” as a violation of human dignity. The Pope invoked the Parable of the Good Samaritan, warning against nationalism that distorts social life and allows “the will of the strongest to dictate truth.”
Waiting for @JDVance (and the British right wing media?) to say that the Pope too had misunderstood the message of Christ…. https://t.co/wSVnChcZos
— Rory Stewart (@RoryStewartUK) February 11, 2025
Francis’s intervention didn’t go unnoticed. Stewart was quick to celebrate, retweeting the Pope’s remarks with thinly veiled glee, while Catholic observers noted the escalating tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration. After all, Trump and Vance won the Catholic vote decisively in November, and yet here was Francis making it clear that he stood in direct opposition to their policies.
The letter is just the latest sign of what some are calling an “ordo odii”—a widening rift between Rome and Washington. The divide became even more evident with Francis’s appointment of Cardinal Robert McElroy as the new Archbishop of Washington—a move seen by many as a direct challenge to the Trump administration.
According to Damian Thompson of The Spectator, this was a “tit-for-tat” maneuver following Trump’s appointment of Brian Burch, the pro-life, MAGA-aligned founder of CatholicVote, as U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. If there was any hope of warmer relations between Trump’s White House and Francis’s Vatican, this latest exchange may have cemented the divide.
Meanwhile, the Pope’s intervention comes at a delicate moment for his own health and leadership. Francis, now 88, has been admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital for bronchitis treatment, marking yet another health setback in recent years. Despite his condition, he has continued his daily audiences, including meetings with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and CNN chief Mark Thompson, though his recent reliance on aides to deliver speeches has raised concerns about his ability to keep up with the demands of his office.
The Vatican has provided few details about the Pope’s latest hospitalization, stating only that he will undergo tests and continue treatment in a hospital setting. His schedule remains packed, with a major Holy Year event honoring artists planned for this weekend, along with a trip to Rome’s famed Cinecittà studios on Monday. However, given his recent falls and difficulty breathing, speculation is growing about the long-term implications for his leadership.