By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
NOW CONFIRMED as the final diplomatic audience of the Pope Francis’ life, United States Vice President JD Vance had a private meeting with him less than 24 hours before his demise.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at 7:35am.
His encounter with Vance, held on Easter Sunday at the Vatican, marks a poignant closing chapter not only in the pontiff’s decade-long papacy but also in Vance’s deeply personal Catholic journey.
VP Vance and his wife, Usha, were received on Easter Sunday morning in the Pope’s private residence.
The audience was short, lasting only a few minutes, but the symbolism now resonates globally.
Vatican officials described it as warm and personal: Francis, despite his condition, gave chocolate Easter eggs to the couple’s children and handed out rosaries.
“Pray for you every day. God bless you,” Vance told the Pope as they parted.
Though their relationship had been marked by public disagreement — particularly over US immigration policy — Sunday’s encounter reflected a shared faith that transcended political divides.
Francis had previously rebuked Vance’s defence of mass deportation measures rooted in Catholic just war theory, urging US bishops to reject such theology. Still, no animosity was visible as the two men exchanged Easter greetings.
Vance was the last known world official to meet the Pope alive — a detail he acknowledged with solemnity on social media.
“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,” he posted on Monday morning. “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.”
The Vice President had previously spoken of his admiration for the Pope’s sermons during the pandemic, noting their depth and emotional clarity. “He was obviously very ill,” Vance wrote, “but I’ll always remember him for the beautiful homily he gave in the early days of COVID.”
JD Vance’s relationship with Catholicism has become increasingly central to his public identity.
Raised in an evangelical household, his conversion in 2019 followed a period of theological study guided by Dominican friars at St Gertrude Church in Cincinnati.
He drew particular inspiration from the writings of St Augustine, whose work City of God he called “the best criticism of our modern age I’d ever read.”
His religious views now shape his political philosophy. A proponent of Catholic social teaching, Vance often frames policy through the lens of family, duty, and tradition. “If the conservative movement stands for anything,” he once said, “it should be pro-babies and pro-families.”
The Vatican had formally announced the Pope’s death through Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber.
Frail and wheelchair-bound, Francis made a final public appearance just hours after his meeting with Vance, offering an Easter blessing from the Loggia of Blessings to pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square.
It was a farewell without fanfare — his last gesture as leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.
Trump Mourns
Following the Vatican’s announcement of Pope Francis’ death on Easter Monday, US President Donald Trump shared a brief statement on his social media platform, Truth Social, offering his condolences:
“Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!”
Trump’s message was concise and reverent, reflecting on the Pope’s global impact without elaboration.
The President, who met Pope Francis during an official visit to the Vatican in 2017, is expected to appear at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll later.
Speaker Mike Johnson added: “As the leader of the Catholic Church, he impacted the lives of countless people across the globe. May he rest in peace.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said, “He embodied the values Christ taught us every day: Helping the less fortunate, calling for peace, and ensuring every person is treated as a child of God.”
