POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: Did Pope Leo XIV and Vance trade blows about compassion?
The Claim A viral social media post claimed that Pope Leo XIV and U.S. Vice President JD Vance engaged in a heated verbal exchange over the subject of compassion. The post, shared by a Facebook user...
The Claim
A viral social media post claimed that Pope Leo XIV and U.S. Vice President JD Vance engaged in a heated verbal exchange over the subject of compassion. The post, shared by a Facebook user named @DeeWallaceOfficialFB, included an image featuring both figures and purported dialogue between them.
The post’s caption described a scenario in which Vance criticized the Pope for promoting compassion as a virtue, calling it a form of weakness. In response, Pope Leo XIV allegedly delivered a fiery rebuttal, challenging Vance’s perspective with rhetorical questions about the moral value of caring for the sick, helping the poor, and loving one’s neighbors. The post concluded with a quote from the Pope: ‘Can we imagine hatred in heaven? Can we imagine cruelty in heaven? Then why do we tolerate these things on earth?’
The Details & Investigation
Upon investigation, no credible sources or official records confirm that such a conversation took place between Pope Leo XIV and Vice President JD Vance. Snopes, the fact-checking organization that first reported on this claim, found no evidence of any news outlet covering the alleged exchange. Major media organizations such as The Associated Press, Reuters, and CNN did not report on the incident, which is highly unusual if it had actually occurred.
The claim appears to have originated from a Facebook post by a user named @DeeWallaceOfficialFB, which used a verification badge and the name of actress Dee Wallace, known for her role in *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial*. However, further examination revealed that the page was not officially linked to the actor. Instead, it was managed by six accounts based in Vietnam, and its content was largely composed of AI-generated posts and fictional stories. The page also featured a generic blog titled ‘News And Tips,’ which lacked standard legal documentation and was found to host AI-generated content, including the story about the Pope and Vance.
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Snopes noted that the story bore similarities to ‘glurge’—a term used to describe fabricated, sentimental, and often emotionally charged stories designed to be shared on social media. These types of posts are often created to generate traffic and advertising revenue. A scan of the text using an AI detection tool called Pangram indicated that the entire text was generated by artificial intelligence. While AI detection tools are not always 100% reliable, they serve as one of several indicators in evaluating the authenticity of online content.
Furthermore, some of Vance’s past remarks were cited as potential inspiration for the fabricated story. In April 2026, Vance made comments about the Pope’s involvement in theological matters, suggesting he should be cautious when commenting on such issues. However, there is no evidence that Vance ever directly criticized the Pope on the topic of compassion, nor did he make the specific statements attributed to him in the viral post.
The Verdict
The claim that Pope Leo XIV and U.S. Vice President JD Vance had a public exchange about compassion is FALSE. There is no verified evidence to support the existence of such a conversation, and the story appears to be entirely fabricated. The narrative was likely created using artificial intelligence and disseminated through social media platforms to generate engagement and ad revenue. The use of a misleading Facebook page, AI-generated content, and the absence of any credible reporting all point to a deliberate attempt to deceive readers.
This case represents a clear example of DISINFORMATION. The story was not the result of an unintentional error or misinterpretation but rather a coordinated effort to spread false information. The fabricated quotes, the lack of credible sources, and the presence of AI-generated content all indicate that the claim was intentionally created and circulated with the intent to mislead the public.
Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).