What JD Vance and Pope Francis spoke about during brief meeting before his death
Topics: Politics, US News, World News, Pope Francis
Jen Thomas
Featured Image Credit: Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images
Topics: Politics, US News, World News, Pope Francis
Vice President JD Vance met up with Pope Francis the day before he died, and people have been wondering what was said during the unfortunately timed meeting.
Vance had recently converted to Catholicism, and was reportedly delighted to be granted an audience with the Pope.
Pope Francis used his public Easter blessing to call for kindness towards migrants and asked Catholics to be welcoming to people 'who come from distant lands'.
“How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants!” he said.
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“On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas! For all of us are children of God!”
During JD Vance's meeting, Pope Francis gave Vance chocolate Easter eggs for his children as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries.
Vance told Pope Francis: “I know you have not been feeling great but it’s good to see you in better health."
The pope had previously been recovering from pneumonia after a lengthy stay in hospital.
According to Associated Press, Vance and his team spent a total of 17 minutes in the Vatican.
He also had a meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Saturday to discuss immigration.
“There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners,” the Vatican said in a statement.
“Finally, hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.”
Back in February, the Pope also criticised Vance’s use of church doctrine to justify the Trump administration's treatment of immigrants.
Pope Francis previously wrote in a letter: “I have followed closely the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a program of mass deportations.
"The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality.
"What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly,” he added.
His response came after Vance wrote on Twitter: “Just google ‘ordo amoris."
Ancient theologian St. Augustine said the phrase means all people are to be loved equally, but that you should prioritise those who have a closer connection to you 'since you cannot do good to all'.
Francis disagreed, writing in his letter: “Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups … The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan’… that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.”
Vance later called himself a 'baby Catholic' and confessed there are many 'things about the faith that I don’t know'.
Following the passing of the Pope, Vance shared online: “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 … May God rest his soul.”