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JD Vance broke his silence over Pope Francis’ passing, reflecting on how his Easter meeting with the spiritual leader turned into a final farewell.
On Monday, April 21, the Vatican announced that the spiritual leader had passed away at the age of 88.
The pontiff, who has publicly disagreed with Vance in the past, met him hours before he breathed his last breath.
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JD Vance broke his silence over Pope Francis’ passing
Image credits: FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth
“I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis,” Vance wrote on X. “My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.”
The Ohio Republican said he was “happy to see [him] yesterday” and noted that he was “obviously very ill.”
“But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID,” he continued. “It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul.”
The Ohio Republican said he was “happy to see [him] yesterday” and noted that he was “obviously very ill”
Image credits: La Cancillería de Ecuador
During Vance’s trip to Italy, his itinerary did not initially include paying the pope a visit.
However, it was reportedly his personal goal as a Catholic to spend a few moments with him and he hoped a meeting with him could be arranged.
It was an honor to meet with Pope Francis, Prime Minister Meloni, and Church officials in Italy this weekend.
Visiting Rome with my family during Holy Week was an incredible experience. pic.twitter.com/pAxKmKxUst
— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) April 21, 2025
On Sunday, during the Easter festivities, Vance was welcomed by Francis in one of the reception rooms of the Vatican hotel where he lived.
He was offered three big chocolate Easter eggs for his three children, along with a Vatican tie and rosaries.
“I know you have not been feeling great, but it’s good to see you in better health. Thank you for seeing me,” the former author-turned-politician reportedly told him.
A statement from the US Vice President’s office said their meeting lasted about 15 minutes on Sunday.
The pope offered Vance three big chocolate Easter eggs for his three children
Image credits: Vatican Media/Getty Images
Vance, who converted to Roman Catholicism in 2019, “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,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Vatican said they met “to exchange Easter greetings” and had an “exchange of opinions” over several topics, including migrants, refugees, and current conflicts.
Image credits: Vatican Media/Getty Images
Pope Francis never shied away from speaking against the White House and particularly against President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies.
He questioned Trump’s choices in 2016 and said, “A person who thinks only about building walls… and not of building bridges, is not Christian.”
Vance and the pontiff met “to exchange Easter greetings,” the Vatican said
Image credits: Face the Nation
Last September, he said “expelling migrants” and “not letting them have a life” was “ugly” and “mean.”
Shortly before Francis was hospitalized in February this year, he challenged Vance’s previous claims of the Catholic faith supporting such policies.
“God will richly reward all that you do for the protection and defense of those who are considered less valuable, less important or less human!” the pontiff wrote in a heavy-worded open letter to US bishops.
Francis has long been vocal about his stance against Trump and his immigration policies
Image credits: Ashwin Vaswani/Unsplash
While acknowledging the pope’s criticism, Vance called himself a “baby Catholic” in his defense and said there are “things about the faith that I don’t know.”
Francis passed away just weeks after being discharged from the hospital, where he spent five weeks with double pneumonia.
In addition to meeting Vance on Sunday, he spent Easter appearing in front of a cheering crowd from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
“Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter,” he said, waving from his wheelchair and giving the traditional blessing to the thousands of worshippers that had gathered.
The deceased pope has publicly clashed with Vance in the past
Image credits: Vatican Media/Getty Images
Image credits: JDVance
He also emerged from his convalescence and rode through a delightful crowd in the popemobile, pausing several times to bless the babies brought before him in St. Peter’s Square.
Following his death, the White House’s official X account shared two photos of the pope, one of him with Trump and his wife Melania and another of him with Vance.
“Rest in Peace, Pope Francis,” read the text.
“I hope the Pope was able to talk some sanity into Vance,” one reader commented
Image credits: Doctor_Invictus
Image credits: KOnocomment
Image credits: deanna504
What do you think ?
LakotaWolf (she/her) 7 months ago
Well, poor little "Jorkin Dapeanus" will always have his couch, even if the Pope is gone. (I know the "JD Vance fúcked a couch in college" story isn't true, but it makes me laugh every time I think about it, because he's just such a smarmy, self-righteous little ball of ánal polyps.)
Mike F 7 months ago
He (Vance) reminds one of the "odd" relative many of us have. Just the vacuous look on his face screams it.
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UKGrandad 7 months ago (edited)
So Vance was the last person to touch the Pope's hand? I hope the autopsy includes a screen for poison absorbed through the skin 🧐
Martin Johann Christian Lorentz 7 months ago
It is very convenient, that an autopsy ist never conducted on popęs.
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Michael Largey 7 months ago
When a Catholic is near death, he thinks about purgatory. When those last hours are spent with J.D. Vance, those thoughts move on to hell.
Tabitha 7 months ago
Like looking forward to hell, just as long as you can get away from JD, right?
Load More Replies... LakotaWolf (she/her) 7 months ago
Well, poor little "Jorkin Dapeanus" will always have his couch, even if the Pope is gone. (I know the "JD Vance fúcked a couch in college" story isn't true, but it makes me laugh every time I think about it, because he's just such a smarmy, self-righteous little ball of ánal polyps.)
Mike F 7 months ago
He (Vance) reminds one of the "odd" relative many of us have. Just the vacuous look on his face screams it.
Load More Replies... UKGrandad 7 months ago (edited)
So Vance was the last person to touch the Pope's hand? I hope the autopsy includes a screen for poison absorbed through the skin 🧐
Martin Johann Christian Lorentz 7 months ago
It is very convenient, that an autopsy ist never conducted on popęs.
Load More Replies... Michael Largey 7 months ago
When a Catholic is near death, he thinks about purgatory. When those last hours are spent with J.D. Vance, those thoughts move on to hell.
Tabitha 7 months ago
Like looking forward to hell, just as long as you can get away from JD, right?
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