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Newsweek
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Vance Says Pope Francis Had 'Disagreements' With Trump Admin Policies
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Vice President JD Vance has reflected on the legacy of Pope Francis and their recent meeting, acknowledging policy disagreements but emphasizing the pontiff's lasting impact as a pastoral leader. Speaking to reporters in Agra, India, on Wednesday, Vance addressed questions about whether he would attend the pope's upcoming funeral and shared personal insights into their encounter, which occurred less than a day before the pope's death. "I'm aware he had disagreements with some of the policies of our administration," Vance said. "He also had a lot of agreements with the policies of our administration. I'm not going to soil the man's legacy by talking about politics. I think he was a great Christian pastor and that's how I choose to remember the holy father." Pope Francis receives U.S. Vice President JD Vance before bestowing the Urbi et Orbi blessing in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025. Pope Francis receives U.S. Vice President JD Vance before bestowing the Urbi et Orbi blessing in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025. Vatican Media via AP, HO Why It Matters Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88, just hours after meeting Vance during his Easter Sunday visit to the Vatican. The two exchanged greetings in what became one of Francis' final public interactions. Vance, a Catholic convert since 2019, described the meeting as "a great blessing." The pope had publicly criticized some Trump administration policies, particularly on immigration. In 2016, Francis addressed then-candidate Donald Trump's proposal to build a border wall, stating: "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian." Vance acknowledged these differences during remarks at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast earlier this year. "My goal is not to litigate with him or any other clergy member about who's right and who's wrong," he said, according to CBS News. During Sunday's meeting, the vice president greeted the pope, who was seated in a wheelchair. "I know you've not been feeling great, but it's good to see you in better health," he said in a video released by the Vatican. When Is Pope Francis' Funeral? Francis' funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) in St. Peter's Square, following three days of public viewing beginning Wednesday at St. Peter's Basilica. His body will be buried at Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major in a simple wooden casket, per his request. Who Will Attend Pope Francis' Funeral? Among the world leaders confirmed to attend are President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, who announced their plans to be present in Rome. Other global dignitaries expected at the service include Argentinian President Javier Milei, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish President Andrzej Duda, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Several royal figures will also attend, including the heir to the British throne Prince William and the Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking to reporters on Monday, said conversations about the broader U.S. delegation were ongoing. Vance has not committed to attending, stating: "I'm not currently planning to attend his funeral, I'm not currently planning not to attend his funeral, we just haven't thought that much about when his funeral is going to be and who is going to attend from our government." A Final Encounter For Vance, the recent encounter with Francis was a deeply personal moment. "I've thought a lot about that. It's pretty crazy, actually, and obviously when I saw him I didn't know that he had less than 24 hours still on this earth, I think it was a great blessing," Vance told reporters. The vice president shared his condolences on social media. "My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. He highlighted one of Francis' homilies delivered during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it "really quite beautiful." "The thing that I will always remember Pope Francis for is that he was a great pastor. People on the margins, poor people, people suffering from diseases, they saw in Pope Francis an advocate and I think a true expression of Christian love," Vance told reporters.
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pope Francis and JD Vance's final meeting sheds light on their years-long relation
When Vice President JD Vance arrived in Rome over Easter weekend, the buzz was already swirling: the Pope had reportedly declined to meet him. Critics speculated that Pope Francis, unwell and often at odds with Vance's political stances, had intentionally snubbed the rising Republican. But, Vance did meet the Pope — on Easter Sunday morning, and on what would turn out to be the final full day of Francis's life. ALSO READ| JD Vance's meeting with Pope Francis before his death sparks conspiracy theories, fumed netizens ask 'What did you do?' As the streets of Rome shut down and a motorcade carried Vance past waving flags — the Stars and Stripes alongside the Vatican's yellow and white — the atmosphere shifted. Vance, a 40-year-old Catholic convert and one of the youngest men ever to serve as US vice president, was ushered into Casa Santa Marta, the Pope's residence, for a private audience. 'Hello, so good to see you,' Vance said gently as he approached the frail pontiff, seated in a wheelchair. Pope Francis, who had just delivered a somber Easter message condemning the treatment of migrants and warning against leaders who 'yield to the logic of fear,' appeared too weak to speak much. Still, he welcomed Vance with quiet dignity. 'Thank you very much for your visit,' Francis whispered, per The Washington Post. 'Of course. Of course,' Vance replied. 'And thank you for seeing me.' Though their views on immigration and social justice have often clashed — Francis criticised the 'contempt' shown to the marginalised, while Vance has defended Trump's hardline deportation policies. Only weeks earlier, Vance had offered surprisingly warm words about the Pope at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast: 'That is how I will always remember the Holy Father: as a great pastor, as a man who can speak the truth of the faith in a very profound way at a moment of great crisis.' The VP shared how Francis's homily during the early days of COVID deeply moved him. With a newborn at home and the world locked down, Vance recalled stockpiling rice and ammunition, unsure of what lay ahead. The Pope's message in that empty St. Peter's Square struck a chord that stayed with him. ALSO READ| 'Was happy to see him yesterday': JD Vance on Pope Francis's demise day after Easter Sunday meet Following the Pope's death the next day, Vance turned once again to that sermon, posting a link to it on X and writing: '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… May God rest his soul.'
Boston Globe
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
The story behind JD Vance's unlikely visit with Pope Francis
Vance and Francis have publicly disagreed in recent months on immigration policies and other aspects of church teaching, so an Easter Sunday meeting with the pope was notable. But for Vance, a 40-year-old Catholic convert, to become one of the few individuals to meet Francis on the last full day of his life, when the pope was visibly lacking strength to speak or express emotion, was historic. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'Hello, so good to see you,' Vance said as he approached Francis in his wheelchair. The pope was about to speak a few words to a crowd of tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square before an archbishop read Francis's final Easter homily. The message decried 'how much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized and migrants.' The address also warned against elected officials who 'yield to the logic of fear which only leads to isolation from others.' Advertisement Vance, in the days leading up to the visit, had vehemently defended the Trump administration's aggressive deportation agenda, slamming both the 'illegal migrant invasion' under Joe Biden and the 'smug, self-assured bullshit' coming from critics of Trump's deportation policies. The vice president has relished the role of attack dog in an administration that prizes dominance and retribution. Advertisement Yet in a plain and starkly lit room in Casa Santa Marta, the pope's residence within the Vatican, the two men offered only kindness to each other. Vance had sprinted to the pope's home for a meeting that lasted mere minutes. And he did most of the talking, offering a show of deference not commonly seen since he joined Trump's ticket and got an office in his White House. 'I know you've not been feeling great, but it's good to see you in better health,' Vance said. A representative for the pope presented Vance with a tray of keepsakes from Francis for his family. Francis's translator smiled at Vance throughout, as the pope sought to widen his eyes and nod. He briefly spoke a few words to welcome Donald Trump's young vice president, who had converted to the faith just six years earlier. 'Thank you very much for your visit,' a feeble Francis whispered as his translator conveyed the message. 'Of course. Of course,' Vance replied. 'And thank you for seeing me.' Moments later, it was over. The ailing pope's decision to welcome the vice president seemed to highlight Francis's sense of duty and care for others - a trait Vance himself had praised just weeks earlier. 'That is how I will always remember the Holy Father: as a great pastor, as a man who can speak the truth of the faith in a very profound way at a moment of great crisis,' Vance said at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in late February after Francis had written a public letter that, without naming Vance, clearly condemned his interpretation of Christian teaching about caring for strangers. Advertisement Vance also acknowledged that day that Francis had 'criticized' the administration's immigration policies. But he pivoted to make a generous observation: The pope is 'fundamentally a person who cares about the flock of Christians under his leadership.' Vance cited a homily Francis gave to an empty St. Peter's Square in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. Vance's wife Usha had just had their second baby weeks earlier, and the world was seemingly shut down. He had bought 900 rounds of ammunition from Dick's Sporting Goods and two bags of rice from Walmart, Vance told those at the prayer breakfast, unsure of how anything would pan out. Francis's words at the time were so meaningful during that time of uncertainty, Vance said, that he has repeatedly reread the sermon since. After the pope's death Monday, Vance mentioned the sermon again, this time in an X post reacting to the news. 'It was really quite beautiful,' Vance wrote, sharing a link to the Vatican transcript of that sermon. 'May God rest his soul.'
CBS News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Vance reacts to Pope Francis' death one day after meeting him
Washington — Vice President JD Vance reacted to the death of Pope Francis a day after meeting with the pontiff on Easter Sunday, saying he was "happy to see him yesterday," though he noted that Francis "was obviously very ill." "My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him," Vance said in a post on X . The vice president met briefly with Francis at the Vatican Sunday while spending the Easter weekend in Rome with his family. During the visit, the vice president told the pontiff that it was good to see him "in better health" and received gifts for himself and his family. Vance said on X that he would "always remember" the pontiff for a homily he delivered in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, which he called "really quite beautiful." Vance and Francis' meeting came after the two men had aired sharp disagreement on immigration as the pontiff had long condemned the Trump administration's approach. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, acknowledged Francis' criticism during a speech at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington in February, while saying that his goal "is not to litigate with him or any other clergy member about who's right and who's wrong." "Every day since I heard of Pope Francis' illness, I say a prayer for the Holy Father," Vance said at the time. "Because while yes, I was certainly surprised when he criticized our immigration policy in the way that he has, I also know that the pope, I believe that the pope, is fundamentally a person who cares about the flock of Christians under his leadership."
CBS News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Vice President JD Vance reacts to Pope Francis' death one day after meeting him
Washington — Vice President JD Vance reacted to the death of Pope Francis a day after meeting with the pontiff on Easter Sunday, saying he was "happy to see him yesterday," though he noted that Francis "was obviously very ill." "My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him," Vance said in a post on X . The vice president met briefly with Francis at the Vatican Sunday while spending the Easter weekend in Rome with his family. During the visit, the vice president told the pontiff that it was good to see him "in better health" and received gifts for himself and his family. Vance said on X that he would "always remember" the pontiff for a homily he delivered in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, which he called "really quite beautiful." Vance and Francis' meeting came after the two men had aired sharp disagreement on immigration as the pontiff had long condemned the Trump administration's approach. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, acknowledged Francis' criticism during a speech at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington in February, while saying that his goal "is not to litigate with him or any other clergy member about who's right and who's wrong." "Every day since I heard of Pope Francis' illness, I say a prayer for the Holy Father," Vance said at the time. "Because while yes, I was certainly surprised when he criticized our immigration policy in the way that he has, I also know that the pope, I believe that the pope, is fundamentally a person who cares about the flock of Christians under his leadership."
