“I know you didn’t feel good, but it’s good that you meet in a better health,” Vance told the Pope.
Vice President J.D. Vice President J.D. Vice President met with Pope Francis on April 20th to celebrate Easter in one of the response rooms at the Vatican Hotel, where the Pope lives.
“I know you didn’t feel good, but it’s good that you meet in a better health,” Vance told the Pope. “Thank you for meeting me.”
Francis is still recovering from a nearby pneumonia match, including a rare respiratory infection that he feared for the 88-year-old Pope’s ability to lead the Vatican.
The Pope provided the US Vice President with three large chocolate Easter eggs to three young children who were not present.
Francis also offered Vance a Vatican tie and a rosary.
Vance met with Vatican officials the day before. While Easter Mass was celebrated at St. Peter’s Square, Vance’s Motorcade delegated the Mass celebration to another cardinal, so Vance’s Motorcade entered the city through the side gate.
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Francis and Vance meet for a few minutes at the Domus Santa Mart and “exchange Easter greetings,” the Vatican said. Vance’s office confirmed the meeting but did not provide details. The Vice President’s convoy was in the Vatican for 17 minutes.
“A properly formed conscience fails to make critical judgments and cannot express inconsistency in measures that implicitly or explicitly identify the illegal status of some criminal immigrants,” writes Francis. “What is built on power rather than truth about equal dignity for all humans will begin and end badly.”
Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, evoked medieval Catholic theological teachings known as “Aldo Morris” to justify the Trump administration’s deportation, explaining his reasoning to Fox News.
“You love your family, then you love your neighbor, and you love your community, and you love your fellow citizens of your own country. And then you can focus and prioritize other parts of the world,” Vance said.
On Saturday, Vance met with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
Vance and Parolyn discussed “their shared religious beliefs, American Catholicism, the light letter of persecuted Christian communities around the world, and President Trump’s commitment to restoring world peace,” according to the Vice President’s office.
The Vatican said its officials and Vance were “exchanging opinions” on topics such as immigration, refugees and current global conflict.
On Sunday, the Pope greeted tens of thousands of Catholics in the outdoor popemovie building at St. Peters Square since surviving double pneumonia.
Francis was sitting in a raised chair behind a white vehicle, many people walking past him, raising the flag and yelling “Viva Il Papa!” Or, “Live the Pope for a long time!”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
