Vance plays down political differences with Pope

24/4/2025 6:10

U.S. Vice President JD Vance played

down political differences between the Trump administration and

the late Pope Francis and said he felt lucky to have held one of

the last meetings with the Catholic pontiff before he died.



The two met briefly on Sunday morning at the Vatican while

Vance was visiting Italy. The pope died the next day.



Vance said he reflected on the fact that he was one of the

last officials to meet Pope Francis, whom he described as a

great pastor, before he passed away.



"It's pretty crazy, actually. And obviously, when I saw him,

I didn't know that he had less than 24 hours still on this

earth. I think it was a great blessing," Vance told journalists

in India after his Italy trip had concluded. "I was lucky that I

got to shake his hand and tell him that I pray for him every

day, because ... I did, and I do."



The pope was a sharp critic of U.S. President Donald Trump's

immigration policies, calling them a disgrace shortly before his

inauguration in January.



Vance dismissed differences between the U.S. administration

and the late pontiff.



"I'm aware that he had some disagreements with some of the

policies of our administration. He also had a lot of agreements

with some of the policies of our administration," Vance said.



"I'm not going to soil ... the man's legacy by talking about

politics. I think he was a great Christian pastor, and that's

how I choose to remember the Holy Father."



Asked if he hoped the next pope would follow in Francis'

progressive footsteps or take a more traditional approach, the

conservative Vance demurred.



"I won't pretend to give guidance to the Cardinals on who

they should select as the next pope. We've got plenty of issues

to focus on in the United States," Vance said. "I'll just say a

prayer for wisdom, because I obviously want them to pick the

right person. I want them to pick somebody who will be good for

the world's Catholics."