In response, Vance said, “I generally don’t mind people making jokes, but I don’t like people starting pointless wars that kill thousands of my countrymen.”
Kristol supported the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, which the vice president seemed to be alluding to. Others were less at ease with the picture.
During a press briefing on the impending conclave, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni declined to comment on the picture.
Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi commented on X, “This is an image that offends believers,
insults institutions, and shows that the leader of the global right enjoys being a clown.”
“In the meantime, the dollar depreciates and the US economy faces the possibility of a recession.”
