Vice President JD Vance has expressed his condolences following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. Vance had met with the Pope just one day earlier, on Easter Sunday, during a visit to the Vatican. Despite the Pope’s frailty due to recent health issues, including double pneumonia, he warmly greeted Vance and presented gifts for his children, such as chocolate Easter eggs, a Vatican tie, and rosaries .Yahoo News+13ABC News+13ABC News+13People.com
In a statement on social media, Vance described the meeting as “a great honor” and conveyed his sorrow upon learning of the Pope’s passing. He noted that the Pope appeared “obviously very ill” during their encounter but was still able to share a moment of connection. Vance also reflected on the Pope’s legacy, recalling his impactful homily during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic .People.com
The Vice President’s meeting with Pope Francis occurred amid ongoing discussions between the Vatican and the Trump administration over immigration policies. While Vance had previously acknowledged the Pope’s criticism of the administration’s stance on migrants, he expressed a desire to engage in dialogue and sought to tone down tensions during his visit .PinkNews+6ABC News+6Yahoo News+6Catholic Herald
Global leaders have since paid tribute to Pope Francis, honoring his commitment to social justice, compassion for the marginalized, and efforts toward interfaith dialogue
