U.S. Vice President reflects on personal meeting with Holy Father, calls for prayerful respect amid political divides
In the wake of Pope Francis’ passing, U.S. Vice President JD Vance is urging Americans to remember the pontiff not through the lens of politics, but as a spiritual father to over a billion Catholics worldwide.
Speaking during a four-day visit to India with his wife, Usha — the first Hindu-American Second Lady — Vance called the late pope a “great Christian pastor” and a “broad figure” whose legacy transcends national debates.
“A lot of people, especially in the American press, want to make the Holy Father — his entire legacy and even his death — about American politics,” Vance said. “He represents over a billion Catholics worldwide.”
Earlier this year, Pope Francis and Vance had publicly differed on the issue of immigration. Francis issued a pastoral letter to the U.S. bishops calling for mercy and dignity toward migrants, a message some saw as a gentle response to Vance’s promotion of “ordo amoris,” the theological principle of rightly ordered love.
Yet even with those disagreements, Vance said he would not use this moment to reopen political arguments. “I’m not going to soil the man’s legacy by talking about politics,” he said. “I think he was a great Christian pastor, and that’s how I choose to remember the Holy Father.”
Vance, a Catholic convert and father of three, was among the last U.S. officials to meet with Pope Francis before his death on Easter Monday. Their final encounter came on Easter Sunday morning.
“I’ve thought a lot about that,” Vance shared. “I think it was a great blessing.” The pope offered him three chocolate Easter eggs — one for each of his children — along with a Vatican tie and rosaries. “When I saw him, I didn’t know he had less than 24 hours still on this earth.”
When asked what kind of pope he hopes will be elected in the upcoming conclave, Vance responded with humility and restraint.
“I won’t pretend to give guidance to the cardinals,” he said. “I’ll just say a prayer for wisdom… I want them to pick somebody who will be good for the world’s Catholics.”
Vance concluded with words of consolation to the faithful: “We’re very saddened by it,” he said. “Our condolences to Catholics all over the world, but especially back home who love and honor the Holy Father.”
