JD Vance meets Pope Francis on Easter Sunday after flap over migration

Pope Francis meets with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday at the Vatican on April 20, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Vatican Media via Reuters

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance met briefly with Pope Francis on Sunday (April 20, 2025) to exchange Easter greetings, after they got into a long-distance tangle over U.S. President Donald Trump administration’s migrant deportation plans.

Pope Francis, who is recovering from a near-fatal bout of pneumonia, received Mr. Vance in one of the reception rooms of the Vatican hotel where he lives. The 88-year-old pope offered the Catholic Vice President three big chocolate Easter eggs for Mr. Vance’s three young children, who did not attend, as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries.

“I know you have not been feeling great but it’s good to see you in better health,” Mr. Vance told the Pope. “Thank you for seeing me.”

Pope Francis meets with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on Easter Sunday at the Vatican on April 20, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
Vatican Media via Reuters

Mr. Vance’s motorcade entered Vatican City through a side gate while Easter Mass was being celebrated in St. Peter’s Square. Pope Francis had delegated the celebration of the Mass to another cardinal.

The Vatican said they met for a few minutes at the Domus Santa Marta “to exchange Easter greetings.” Mr. Vance’s office said that they met, but provided no further details. In all, Mr. Vance’s motorcade was on Vatican territory for 17 minutes.

He later joined his family for Easter Mass at St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four pontifical basilicas in Rome. The Vances visited the tomb of the apostle St. Paul that is said to be located there.

Mr. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, and the pope have tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administration’s plans to deport migrants en masse. Pope Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy.

Just days before he was hospitalized in February, Pope Francis blasted the deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to U.S. bishops, Pope Francis also appeared to respond to Mr. Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies.

Mr. Vance has acknowledged Pope Francis’ criticism but has said he will continue to defend his views. During a Feb. 28 appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Mr. Vance didn’t address the issue specifically but called himself a “baby Catholic” and acknowledged there are “things about the faith that I don’t know.”

Mr. Vance met Saturday (April 19, 2025) with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Foreign Minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.

Mr. Vance’s office said he and Mr. Parolin “discussed their shared religious faith, Catholicism in the United States, the plight of persecuted Christian communities around the world, and President Trump’s commitment to restoring world peace.”

The Vatican, for its part, said there was an “exchange of opinions” including over migrants and refugees and current conflicts.

The Holy See has responded cautiously to the Trump administration while seeking to continue productive relations in keeping with its tradition of diplomatic neutrality. It has expressed alarm over the administration’s crackdown on migrants and cuts in international aid while insisting on peaceful resolutions to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.