India, April 16 -- The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has pushed back against remarks by Vice President JD Vance, after he said Pope Leo XIV should "be careful" when speaking on theological matters, reported Forbes. The statement from the bishops' Committee on Doctrine comes amid a debate over religion in US public life.

The debate has also been fuelled by a separate controversy involving President Donald Trump and his recent use of religious imagery online.

Vance made the remarks at a Turning Point USA event, where he questioned the pope's comments on theology, particularly in relation to his views on war. He said the pontiff should be cautious when choosing to "opine on matters of theology," Forbes reported.

His comment...