Stephen Colbert didn’t hold back when it came to Vice President JD Vance, using his Late Show monologue to both mock and undercut Vance’s criticism of Pope Leo. It was yet another opportunity for Colbert to blend comedy with his Catholic faith.
Colbert’s remarks came in response Vance’s appearance at a Turning Point USA conference, where he took aim at the pope for criticizing Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict. It also came on the heels of Trump's controversial AI Jesus image that shocked and angered critics and supporters alike.
The Late Show host joked that anytime President Trump finds himself in a controversy he can't dig himself out of, it's Vance's "job to get out there to receive a swift kick in the nuts.” Colbert was happy to be the one to deliver the strike after playing a clip in which Vance essentially told Pope Leo to stay in his lane and exercise caution when discussing theology.
From there, Colbert pivoted to what has become one of his favorite comedic tools by invoking his own lifelong Catholicism. Addressing Vance directly, Colbert undercut the vice president’s credibility.
“Hey, hey, hey, JD. I know you’re Catholic, but you joined in 2019,” Colbert said. “I’ve been genuflecting since the mid-1960s.” By contrasting his decades of Catholic experience with Vance’s relatively recent conversion, Colbert positioned himself as someone who better understands the faith. In doing so, he implied Vance lacks the credentials to issue a public criticism of the pope.
Colbert drove that point home with an extended bit about the rituals of Mass, telling Vance it might be time to “sit down. Then stand back up. Then kneel,” before continuing through the full choreography of a Catholic service. “You’re not sneaking out of here after communion,” Colbert warned. “You know who left the Last Supper early? Judas.”
Ultimately, Colbert’s message seemed clear. If Vance wants to publicly challenge the pope, especially as a fellow Catholic, he should be the one to tread carefully. The monologue was a critique of what Colbert framed as overconfidence from a relatively new member of the Church.
It's also likely that Colbert knows he shares a special connection to Pope Leo. A recent poll among Americans found that only Colbert and the pope had a favorable rating. So Vice President Vance now finds himself on the wrong side of two men who vastly outrank him when it comes to popularity. And if you ask Colbert, theological knowledge, too.
Add us as a preferred source on Google