WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 One of Pope Francis' final encounters before his death was with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who visited the Vatican over the weekend.
took place on Easter Sunday. Vance, a Catholic convert, entered the room and reached down for the pope's hand. 鈥淗ello,鈥 the vice president said. 鈥淪o good to see you."
Francis was sitting in a wheelchair, and his words were inaudible in a video released by the Vatican.
鈥淚 know you鈥檝e not been feeling great, but it鈥檚 good see you in better health," Vance said.
A priest serving as a translator spoke for the pope.
鈥淭hese are for your children,鈥 the priest said as someone presented Vance with chocolate eggs. Next came a tray of additional gifts, including rosaries and a Vatican tie.
鈥淭hank you,鈥 Vance said as he held the dark tie. 鈥淪o beautiful.鈥
They posed for a photo, Vance standing to the pope's right before bidding him farewell.
鈥淚 pray for you every day,鈥 Vance said. 鈥淕od bless you.鈥
Vance鈥檚 visit was not without political sensitivities, and he met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Saturday for what the Vatican described as 鈥渁n exchange of opinions.鈥 The Catholic Church, under Francis鈥 leadership, has championed the rights of migrants, while Vance and President Donald Trump have advocated for crackdowns.
Vance's office said the vice president and the cardinal 鈥渄iscussed their shared religious faith, Catholicism in the United States, the plight of persecuted Christian communities around the world, and President Trump鈥檚 commitment to restoring world peace.鈥
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that she had spoken to members of Vance's team on Monday morning after Francis' death.
鈥淭hey expressed how excited and grateful they were for the opportunity to have met with the pope just yesterday,鈥 she said.
Leavitt added that Francis "touched millions of lives throughout his tenure as the head of the Catholic Church and so it鈥檚 a solemn day for Catholics around the world and we are praying for all those who loved the pope and believed in him.鈥
Trump issued a statement on Truth Social: 鈥淩est in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!鈥
At the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday, Trump said he signed an executive order for U.S. flags to fly at half-staff in the pope's honor.
鈥淗e was a good man," the president told reporters. 鈥淗e loved the world and it鈥檚 an honor to do that.鈥
Vance, who , posted additional thoughts on social media.
鈥淚 just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,鈥 he wrote on X. 鈥淚 was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill."
Vance shared that Francis gave on March 27, 2020, as COVID-19 was spreading around the globe.
鈥淚鈥檒l always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID,鈥 Vance wrote. 鈥淚t was really quite beautiful.鈥
Francis had spoken from St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
鈥淭hick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void.鈥
He encouraged people to rely on their faith to help then endure 鈥渂ecause with God life never dies.鈥
