Washington – One of Pope Francis’ Final meetings before his death was with the American vice president JD Vance, who visited the Vatican during the weekend.
The meeting Easter Sunday took place. Vance, a Catholic convert, entered the room and bent down to the Pope’s hand. “Hello,” said the vice president. “It’s so good to see you.”
Francis was sitting in a wheelchair, and his words were inaudible in a video released by the Vatican.
“I know you haven’t felt good, but it’s good to see you in better health,” Vance said.
A priest who serves as a translator spoke for the Pope.
“These are for their children,” said the priest while someone presented chocolate eggs to Vance. Then came an additional gift tray, including the rosaries and a Vatican tie.
“Thank you,” Vance said as he held the dark tie. “So beautiful.”
They posed for a photo, Vance standing with the Pope just before saying goodbye.
“I pray for you every day,” said Vance. “God bless you.”
Vance’s visit was not exempt from political sensibilities, and met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Saturday, so the Vatican described as “an exchange of opinions.” The Catholic Church, under Francis’s leadership, has defended the rights of migrants, while Vance and President Donald Trump have advocated repressions.
Vance’s office said that the vice president and the cardinal “discussed his shared religious faith, Catholicism in the United States, the difficult situation of the Christian communities pursued around the world and the commitment of President Trump to restore world peace.”
The White House Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told journalists that he had spoken with members of the Vance team on Monday morning after Francis’s death.
“They expressed how excited and grateful that they were for the opportunity to have met with Pope yesterday,” he said.
Leavitt added that Francis “touched millions of lives throughout his term as head of the Catholic Church and, therefore, is a solemn day for Catholics around the world and we are praying for all those who loved the Pope and believed in him.”
Trump issued a statement about Truth Social: “Rest in peace Pope Francis! God bless him and all who loved him!”
In the Easter Easter roll of the White House on Monday, Trump said he signed an executive order so that the US flags would fly in the middle of the staff in honor of the Pope.
“He was a good man,” the president told journalists. “He loved the world and it is an honor to do that.”
Vance, who He continued to India after ItalyHe published additional thoughts on social networks.
“I just learned about Pope Francis. My heart is with the millions of Christians around the world who loved him,” he wrote in X. “I was happy to see him yesterday, although he was obviously very sick.”
Shared vance A link to comments that Francis gave on March 27, 2020, while Covid-19 extended throughout the world.
“I will always remember him for the next homily he gave in the first days of Covid,” Vance wrote. “It was really pretty beautiful.”
Francis had spoken from the Basilica of San Pedro in Rome.
“The thick darkness has gathered on our squares, our streets and our cities,” he said. “He has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and an distressing vacuum.”
He encouraged people to trust their faith to help endure “because with God life never dies.”
