In a solemn statement issued Monday, Vice President J.D. Vance reflected on the death of Pope Francis, recounting their final meeting just a day before at the Vatican. The vice president, who was in Rome for Holy Week with his family, described the encounter as both poignant and deeply meaningful, acknowledging the pope’s visible decline in health.
“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,” Vance wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill.”
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, died Monday morning at the age of 88, after a prolonged battle with complications from chronic lung disease. According to the Vatican, the pope passed away peacefully at Casa Santa Marta, his residence within the Vatican City, following months of deteriorating health that included multiple hospitalizations for respiratory issues.
The vice president’s visit on Easter Sunday marked one of the pope’s final public engagements. Vance shared that despite the pontiff’s frailty, he was deeply moved by the encounter and took time in his statement to honor the pope’s legacy—not just as a spiritual leader but as a voice of compassion during times of crisis.
“I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful,” Vance continued in his post, linking to Francis’s March 2020 address in which the pope urged the world to meet the pandemic with faith, courage, and unity.
Photos posted by Vance on Sunday evening showed his family alongside the pope and Vatican officials, captioned: “Visiting Rome with my family during Holy Week was an incredible experience.”
Despite past political tensions—particularly over the Trump administration’s deportation policies, which Vance defended and Pope Francis strongly criticized—the vice president spoke respectfully of Francis’s role in global spiritual leadership.
In February, the pope condemned the expulsion of migrants, invoking biblical teachings that call on believers to “welcome the stranger.” The critique was widely seen as directed at Vance, who had previously cited Christian values in support of tougher immigration enforcement. At the time, Vance acknowledged the pontiff’s concerns, stating, “I’m not going to debate who’s right and wrong,” but added, “Francis cares about the flock of Christians under his leadership and the spiritual direction of the faith.”
That tension seemed distant in Vance’s remarks Monday, as he struck a tone of reverence in remembering the man whose papacy bridged continents and broke historic ground.
Pope Francis, who became the first Jesuit and first Latin American pope in 2013, leaves behind a legacy defined by his outspoken advocacy for the poor, his bold stance on climate change, and his push for a more inclusive and humble church. Often unafraid to wade into political waters, Francis used his papacy to urge global leaders to act with compassion, justice, and mercy.
World leaders, religious figures, and citizens across the globe are expected to gather in Rome in the coming days to pay their respects. The Vatican has announced that funeral services will be held later this week in St. Peter’s Square, with more details forthcoming.
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