JD Vance has been snubbed by Pope Francis during his visit to the Vatican this weekend – amid a remarkable papal rebuke of the Trump administration’s crackdown on migrants.
Vance, a Catholic convert, instead met with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Peter Gallagher, on Saturday.
There was speculation Vance might also briefly greet Pope Francis, who has begun resuming some official duties during his recovery from pneumonia – but the pair are yet to see each other.
The Holy See issued a statement after Vance’s meeting with the Vatican’s number two official, reaffirming good relations but noting ‘an exchange of opinions’ over international conflicts, migrants and prisoners.
Vance has been spending Easter weekend in Rome with his family and attended Good Friday services in St Peter’s Basilica on Friday after meeting with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.
Francis and Vance have tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administration’s plans to deport migrants en masse.
The Pontiff has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative US Catholic Church.
Vance, who converted in 2019, identifies with a small Catholic intellectual movement often called ‘postliberal’, which is viewed by some critics as having reactionary or authoritarian leanings.
US Vice President JD Vance, his wife second lady Usha Vance and their children attend Mass on Good Friday at St. Peter’s Basilica on April 18
Pope Francis leaves after a private visit at the ‘Regina Coeli’ prison where he met around 70 inmates as part of the Holy Thursday celebrations in Rome
The convoy of US Vice President JD Vance arrives at the Vatican ahead of his meeting with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Postliberals share some longstanding Catholic conservative views, such as opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.
They envision a counterrevolution in which they take over government bureaucracy and institutions like universities from within, replacing entrenched ‘elites’ with their own and acting upon their vision of the ‘common good.’
Just days before he was hospitalized in February, Francis blasted the Trump administration’s deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity.
In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies.
Vance had defended the administration’s America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as ‘ordo amoris.’
He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care – to family first, followed by neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.
In his February 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Vance’s understanding of the concept.
‘Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups,’ he wrote.
JD Vance prays during the Good Friday Passion of the Lord service in Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, April 18
Pope Francis during a private visit at the ‘Regina Coeli’ prison where he met around 70 inmates as part of the Holy Thursday celebrations in Rome
Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of Pope Francis for the Diocese of Rome, leads the procession started inside the Colosseum during the Via Crucis
‘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.’
Those concerns were reflected in the Vatican’s statement issued today which said the talks were cordial and expressed satisfaction with the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting freedom of religion and conscience.
‘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 statement said.
‘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.’
The reference to ‘serene collaboration’ appeared to refer to Mr Vance’s accusation that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was resettling ‘illegal immigrants’ in order to get federal funding. Senior US cardinals have pushed back strongly against the claim.
Vance has acknowledged Francis’ criticism but has said he would continue to defend his views.
Pope Francis meets with personnel from Gemelli hospital and Vatican medical staff, at the Vatican on April 16
Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of Pope Francis for the Diocese of Rome, leads the procession started inside the Colosseum during the Via Crucis
During a February 28 appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Vance didn’t address the issue specifically but called himself a ‘baby Catholic’ and acknowledged there are ‘things about the faith that I don’t know.’
While he had criticized Francis on social media in the past, recently he has posted prayers for Francis’ recovery.
On Friday, Vance, his wife and three young children had front-row seats at the Vatican’s Good Friday service in St. Peter’s, a two-hour solemn commemoration featuring Latin and Italian readings. Francis did not attend.
But the pope has begun receiving visitors, including King Charles III, and this week ventured out of the Vatican to meet with prisoners at Rome’s central jail to keep a Holy Thursday appointment ministering to the most marginalized.
He has named other cardinals to preside over Easter services this weekend, but officials haven’t ruled out a possible brief greeting with Vance.
‘I’m grateful every day for this job, but particularly today where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday,’ Vance posted on X.
‘I wish all Christians all over the world, but particularly those back home in the US, a blessed Good Friday.’
