Vice President J.D. Vice President J.D. Vice President Vance was one of Pope Francis’ last visitors, before his death at the age of 88, before the first Jesuits to lead the Catholic Church.
Vance met up with Francis briefly on Sunday and exchanged Easter greetings at one of the reception rooms at the Vatican hotel where he lived since his release from Gemli Hospital in Rome on March 23rd.
The Pope was hospitalized for five weeks after surviving a severe case of pneumonia.
On Sunday, the 88-year-old Pope offered the Catholic vice president three big chocolate Easter eggs for Vance’s three young children.
Photo Gallery: Pope Francis for many years
Pope Francis will meet Vice President J.D. Vance and his delegation in an audience at Casa Santa Marta on April 20, 2025 in the Vatican City, Vatican. (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
“I know you didn’t feel good, but it’s good that you meet in a better health,” Vance told the Pope. “Thank you for meeting me.”
Vance confirmed the news of the Pope’s death early Monday.
“I just learned that Pope Francis has passed away,” the Vice President wrote X:
Vance shared a link to the Vatican transcript for March 27, 2020. This was delivered by Francis from St. Peter’s Cathedral five years ago. Partly, the Pope said, “Accepting His Cross means finding the courage to embrace all the difficulties of the present, and abandoning our enthusiasm for power and possessions for a moment, in order to create room for creativity that only the spirit can inspire.”
The White House also wrote about it in X.
Vance’s car entered the Vatican City on Sunday, with Easter Mass being celebrated at St. Peters Square. Francis delegated the Mass celebration to another cardinal.
The Vatican said they met for a few minutes at Domus Santa Malta to exchange Easter greetings.
Vance’s office said the vice president “invited him to meet on Easter Sunday and expressed his gratitude for the Vatican invited him to attend hospitality that has expanded into his family.”
“I pray for you every day,” Vance said, saying goodbye to Francis. “god bless you.”
Cardinal of Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, will meet Vice President J.D. Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance and their children in an audience at the Apostles Palace in the Vatican City on April 19, 2025. (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
Pope Francis died at the age of 88, according to the Vatican.
Vance’s car was in Vatican territory for a total of 17 minutes, according to the Associated Press. The Vice President later joined the family for Easter Mass at St. Paul outside the wall, one of Rome’s four Pope Cathedrals. Vance visited the tomb of the apostle St. Paul, which is said to be there.
Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, and the Pope, are entangled violently with immigration and the Trump administration’s plan to expel the U.S.
A few days before he was hospitalized in February, Francis said the Trump administration’s plans would strip immigrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to the American bishop, Francis also appeared to respond directly to Vance because he argued that Catholic doctrine justified such policies.
Vance admitted Francis’ criticism, but he said he would continue to follow his views. When he appeared on February 28th at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Vance had not addressed the issue specifically, but he called himself a “baby Catholic” and admitted that there was “something about faiths that I don’t know about.”
Vice President JD Vance will be taking part in the Good Friday Mass of St. Peter’s Cathedral held in the Vatican on April 18, 2025 (Kenny Holston – Pool/Getty Images)
Vance met with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
Vance’s office said he and Parolyn “discussed their shared religious beliefs, American Catholicism, a light letter of persecuted Christian communities around the world, and President Trump’s commitment to restoring world peace.”
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The Vatican said there will be “exchanges” each including immigrants, refugees and current conflicts.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Daniel Wallace is a news and political reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and to X:@danimwallace.
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