‘Was Very Ill’: JD Vance Recalls Last Meeting With Pope Francis On Easter At Vatican

Last Updated:April 21, 2025, 23:12 IST

US Vice President JD Vance, the last world leader to meet the Roman pontiff at the latter's Vatican residence to exchange Easter greetings, expressed his grief over the death.

JD Vance met the Pope, for a few minutes, on Sunday. (X)

Pope Francis Dies: Pope Francis, the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, breathed his last on Monday at the age of 88 after surviving months of double pneumonia.

US Vice President JD Vance, the last world leader to meet the Roman pontiff at the latter’s Vatican residence to exchange Easter greetings, expressed his grief over the death.

Vance paid tribute to the Pope and remembered his last meeting with him, saying that he was very happy to see Pope Francis yesterday, though he was very ill.

“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. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill," he said in a post on X.

He further praised the pontiff’s efforts during the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. “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," he added.

Pope-Vance Meet

Francis made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday, a day before his death, to bless thousands of people in St Peter’s Square, drawing wild cheers and applause. Before this, he held a private meeting with Vance, who was visiting Italy with his family for the weekend.

The Pope gifted Vance a red rosary, a white rosary for his wife, and three chocolate Easter eggs for his children.

Vance had met senior Vatican officials for formal talks the previous day, which Francis did not attend due to his health.

Pope Francis Dies At 88

Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, passed away at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican announced in a video statement on Monday.

In the last few months, the pontiff dealt with multiple hospital visits amid growing concerns about his health. He was hospitalised on February 14 for treatment of Bronchitis and later, the Vatican confirmed a diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia and revealed he had undergone blood transfusions due to low platelet levels, a condition linked to anaemia.

Vatican City

News world ‘Was Very Ill’: JD Vance Recalls Last Meeting With Pope Francis On Easter At Vatican