Pope Francis died Easter Monday, just a day after meeting with US Vice President JD Vance as he attempted to mend his rocky relationship with the leader of the Catholic church.
The 88-year-old Pontiff and Vance had an awkward exchange at the Vatican on Easter Sunday after Francis slammed the Trump administration’s treatment of illegal migrants.
It came just one day after Vance, an adult Catholic convert, appeared to have been snubbed by the Pontiff and forced to meet with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Peter Gallagher.
The Vatican said the meeting between the vice president and the Holy Father was ‘brief’ and lasted a few minutes.
Vance and the Pope tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administration´s plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy.
The pope offered the Catholic vice president three big chocolate Easter eggs for Vance’s three young children, who did not attend, as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries.
‘I know you have not been feeling great but it’s good to see you in better health,’ Vance told the Pope. ‘Thank you for seeing me.’
The Vatican said they met for a few minutes at the Domus Santa Marta ‘to exchange Easter greetings.’
Vance’s office said the vice president ‘expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for inviting him to meet on Easter Sunday and for the hospitality the Vatican has extended to his family.’
‘I pray for you every day,’ Vance said as he bid Francis farewell. ‘God bless you.’
In all, Vance´s motorcade was on Vatican territory for 17 minutes.
Only hours later after the pair’s uncomfortable meeting, the pope succumbed to his health issues and passed away.
Vance broke his silence on the pope’s death after their meeting by posting an emotional tribute calling the pope ‘obviously ill.’
‘I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,’ Vance wrote on X on Monday morning.
JD Vance (pictured left) tried to mend his rocky relationship with Pope Francis (pictured right) at the Vatican on Easter Sunday after the leader of the Catholic church slammed the Trump administration’s treatment of illegal migrants
Vance, center, his wife Usha and their children, Vivek, left, and Maribel, back to camera, arrive at the Basilica of Saint Paul
‘I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul.’
Vance linked to a video of a homily the pope delivered at St. Peter’s Basilica in March 2020 where he spoke of how to follow Jesus out of the ‘darkness’ of the pandemic.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that Vance was ‘excited and grateful’ to have been able to meet with the pope before his passing.
‘He touched millions of lives throughout his tenure as the head of the Catholic Church, so it’s a solemn day for Catholics around the world and we are praying for all those who loved the pope,’ she added.
She did not engage on any speculation on the pair’s final meeting, which only lasted 17 minutes in total.
President Donald Trump issued a short statement on Truth Social following the news of the pope’s death.
‘Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!’ he stated.
Vance´s motorcade entered Vatican City through a side gate while Easter Mass was being celebrated in St. Peter´s Square. Francis had delegated the celebration of the Mass to another cardinal.
The vice president later joined his family for Easter Mass at St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four pontifical basilicas in Rome.
The Vances visited the tomb of the apostle St. Paul that is said to be located there.
Just days before he was hospitalized in February, Francis blasted the deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity.
In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies.
Vance acknowledged Francis´ criticism but has said he will continue to defend his views.
Pope Francis meets with US Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta
It came just one day after Vance, an adult Catholic convert, appeared to have been snubbed by the Pontiff and forced to meet with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Peter Gallagher
During a February 28 appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Vance didn´t address the issue specifically but called himself a ‘baby Catholic’ and acknowledged there are ‘things about the faith that I don´t know.’
Vance met Saturday with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
The vice president´s office said he and Parolin ‘discussed their shared religious faith, Catholicism in the United States, the plight of persecuted Christian communities around the world, and President Trump´s commitment to restoring world peace.’
The Vatican, for its part, said there was an ‘exchange of opinions’ including over migrants and refugees and current conflicts.
The Holy See responded cautiously to the Trump administration while seeking to continue productive relations in keeping with its tradition of diplomatic neutrality.
It expressed alarm over the administration’s crackdown on migrants and cuts in international aid while insisting on peaceful resolutions to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Vance spent Easter weekend in Rome with his family and attended Good Friday services in St Peter’s Basilica on Friday after meeting with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.
The vice president, who converted in 2019, identifies with a small Catholic intellectual movement often called ‘postliberal’, which is viewed by some critics as having reactionary or authoritarian leanings.
US Vice President JD Vance, his wife second lady Usha Vance and their children attend Mass on Good Friday at St. Peter’s Basilica on April 18
Postliberals share some longstanding Catholic conservative views, such as opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.
They envision a counterrevolution in which they take over government bureaucracy and institutions like universities from within, replacing entrenched ‘elites’ with their own and acting upon their vision of the ‘common good.’
Just days before he was hospitalised in February, Francis blasted the Trump administration’s deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity.
In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies.
Vance had defended the administration’s America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as ‘ordo amoris.’
He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care – to family first, followed by neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.
In his February 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Vance’s understanding of the concept.
‘Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups,’ he wrote.
Pope Francis leaves after a private visit at the ‘Regina Coeli’ prison where he met around 70 inmates as part of the Holy Thursday celebrations in Rome
JD Vance prays during the Good Friday Passion of the Lord service in Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, April 18
‘The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.’
Those concerns were reflected in the Vatican’s statement issued today which said the talks were cordial and expressed satisfaction with the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting freedom of religion and conscience.
‘There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees and prisoners,’ the statement said.
‘Finally, hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.’
The reference to ‘serene collaboration’ appeared to refer to Vance’s accusation that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was resettling ‘illegal immigrants’ in order to get federal funding.
Senior US cardinals have pushed back strongly against the claim.
