By Jon Brown, Christian Post Reporter
Aged Vice President Mike Pence drew criticism over the weekend for a Friday X publish thru which he referred to Pope Francis as “the Holy Father,” prompting some to accuse him of asserting Roman Catholicism no topic being an outspoken Evangelical Protestant.
“One in every of my biggest honors as Vice President turned into once the hour I spent with Pope Francis at the Vatican in January 2020,” Pence tweeted. “[Karen Pence] and I be half of Catholics spherical the sector Praying for this humble and godly man. God Bless the Holy Father.”
Pope Francis remains at Rome’s Gemelli Clinic improving from double pneumonia. Per the Vatican, he remained in stable condition and did not require any mechanical air trot with the stream Sunday, though he suffered two episodes of “acute respiratory failure” on Monday.
Pence turned into once raised Roman Catholic but later left the Catholic Church to change into an Evangelical when he turned into once in college, in accordance with a profile in The New York Times.
One in every of my biggest honors as Vice President turned into once the hour I spent with Pope Francis at the Vatican in January 2020. @KarenPence and I be half of Catholics spherical the sector Praying for this humble and godly man. God Bless the Holy Father???? pic.twitter.com/4TNWQi9Ksq
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) March 1, 2025
“‘Holy Father’?? Take note when the evangelical establishment chided us all about not giving the seriousness of Pence’s Protestant religion due appreciate…,” tweeted author and Each day Wire reporter Megan Basham.
John Shelton, who serves as policy director at the nonprofit American citizens Advancing Freedom, based mostly by Pence, defended him in accordance with Basham.
“‘Holy Father’ is a in model address for real US communiques to/relating to the pope no topic denomination (search for beneath for Reagan, Bush, and 2 Protestant secretaries of enlighten),” Shelton wrote. “If this upsets you, that that it is probably going you’ll perhaps soundless initiating a petition to trade it or something.”
Basham replied that she believes Protestants equivalent to Pence can appreciate the diplomatic station of the papal assign of job with out asserting Roman Catholic doctrine.
“I fabricate not deem a petition is wanted. I deem Protestants would possibly perhaps perhaps soundless merely appreciate the assign of job by calling him by his relevant title—Pope Francis—with out using terminology that fully conflicts with Protestant doctrine,” she stated. “Thus, no, Reagan, Bush, and Pompeo have not got performed it either—except they give thought to their authorities positions more vital [than] adhering to the tenets of their religion.”
Tom Buck, who serves as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Lindale, Texas, wrote that Pence would possibly perhaps perhaps enjoy knowledgeable prayer for the pope with out asserting his ecclesiastical title.
“Pence is distorting the Gospel in a pair of solutions! We are in a position to pray for the pope with out perverting the Gospel,” Buck argued. “He isn’t humble but is stuffed with pride to name himself the head of the church and usurp that feature from Christ. He’s not godly on story of he denies salvation by grace alone thru religion alone and actively works to ship a entire bunch of thousands to Hell with him. And he isn’t a holy father, that title belongs to God alone.”
Justin Peters, who heads a world expository preaching and teaching ministry, also criticized Pence for his publish.
“I in actuality enjoy heard from other folks in my theological circles that you enjoy been surely a Christian. You even attended a church pastored by a decent friend of mine,” he wrote. “To head looking out for you speak Roman Catholicism and yell the one who thinks he’s Head of the Church and the Vicar (substitute) of Christ on earth is sad. And there would possibly perhaps be handiest One Holy Father – the Feeble of Days.”
A pair of customers quoted Matthew 23:9, which says, “Carry out not name anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who’s in heaven.”
Pence’s papal tweet got here the identical day he drew backlash for tweeting an op-ed by the Editorial Board of the Wall Motorway Journal titled “Putin Wins the Trump-Zelensky Oval Office Spectacle.”
Republican strategist Andrew Surabian suggested that Pence wouldn’t enjoy joined Trump in standing up to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky adore Vice President JD Vance did right thru their stressful Oval Office meeting final week.
“I search for that the WSJ Ed Board and Mike Pence are both very upset that Trump-Vance defended The United States and stood up for peace between Ukraine and Russia. Each person knows that if Pence enjoy been in the room, he would enjoy been on his fingers and knees worshiping the ground Zelensky walks on,” he wrote.
Donald Trump Jr. wrote merely, “Has there ever been a bigger upgrade in political historic previous than going from Mike Pence to JD Vance?”
Has there ever been a bigger upgrade in political historic previous than going from Mike Pence to JD Vance? https://t.co/FLt3RQ6dh4
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) March 2, 2025
Pence turned into once the predominant candidate to descend out of the 2024 Republican major and declined to endorse Trump when he grew to change into the nominee, citing “profound variations.”
Jon Brown is a reporter for The Christian Post. Send news guidelines to jon.brown@christianpost.com
Holy Anointing Oil from Jerusalem 300ml / 10.1 oz
Passion of Christ 12" Authentic Real Fresh Jesus Crown of Thorns from The Holy Land
14Mar 
14Mar 
14Mar 
14Mar 
14Mar 
14Mar 
by