Their exchange was brief, the atmosphere solemn. As Vance departed, he left the frail pontiff with three final words, marking one of the Pope’s last public encounters.
Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, met Pope Francis at the Domus Santa Marta in Vatican City on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. The Pope, seated in a wheelchair, appeared frail and was reportedly barely audible in video footage released by the Vatican.
As Vance entered the room, he bent down and gently grasped the pontiff’s hand. “Hello,” he said. “So good to see you.” The Pope did not respond audibly. A priest acting as a translator spoke in his stead.
Still, Vance, visibly moved by the moment, offered words of comfort. “I know you’ve not been feeling great, but it’s good to see you in better health,” he said.
After a quiet exchange and a photo taken with Vance standing to the Pope’s right, the vice president offered a final parting message, “God bless you.”
These were the last three words Vance shared with Pope Francis — words of reverence, delivered just before the Pope’s passing. Though the meeting was short, it carried considerable weight.
Vance and Pope Francis had publicly disagreed on matters such as the Trump administration’s immigration policies and deportation tactics. Despite their ideological differences, the meeting on Easter Sunday was cordial and respectful.
According to the Vatican, the two men met to exchange Easter greetings. Vance’s motorcade remained on Vatican grounds for just 17 minutes. His office confirmed the meeting but did not elaborate.
On Saturday, the day before their encounter, Vance met with senior Vatican officials to discuss topics including global conflict and immigration — a subject that defined many of Pope Francis’ public statements.
During the encounter, the Pope offered gifts for the Vice President’s family. Through his translator, a priest presented Vance with chocolate eggs and a tray of items including rosaries and a Vatican tie.
“These are for your children,” the priest said. Vance accepted the tie and replied, “Thank you. So beautiful.”
After the meeting, the vice president and his family attended Easter mass at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. They also visited the tomb of the apostle Paul.
Following the Pope’s passing, Vance posted a tribute on X, expressing his sorrow and reflecting on the significance of their final meeting. “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 wrote.
The post continued, “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.”
As we previously reported, Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. Vatican News shared an image in memoriam, featuring a serene portrait of the late Pope with the inscription, “Pope Francis, 1936–2025.”
The caption simply read, “Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.”
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. pic.twitter.com/jUIkbplVi2
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 21, 2025
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican’s TV channel.
Farrell was scheduled to preside over a rite at 8 p.m. on Monday when the pope’s body was to be placed into a casket, a formality ahead of a funeral that had to be confirmed at the time of writing.
“Rest in peace,” one netizen shared in light of the harrowing news. Another added, “RIP Pope Francis. Christians and the Church has lost a very great and symbolic figure. May God’s blessings and power be with his family and the church at large,” while a third typed, “On Easter Monday of the faith. Monday of the angel.”
Pope Francis was the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church. His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from leaders around the world, many recognizing his attempts to reform a church plagued by internal scandals and bureaucratic infighting.
When he was elected in 2013, he inherited an institution in turmoil, still reeling from global abuse crises and divisions within the Vatican’s leadership. He was tasked with restoring order and credibility.
Throughout his time as pope, he often found himself at odds with both ends of the ideological spectrum. Conservatives accused him of discarding cherished traditions, while progressives believed he failed to go far enough in transforming the Church’s doctrines and policies.
Yet despite the backlash, the Pope remained one of the most globally recognized and admired religious figures, drawing enormous crowds during his international visits.
His commitment to issues such as interfaith cooperation, global peace, and the plight of migrants helped define his legacy. Though his efforts were not without controversy, Pope Francis ultimately reshaped the tone and priorities of the modern papacy — leaving behind a church forever altered by his vision.
