{"id":2426416,"date":"2025-04-23T10:52:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T14:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vance-calls-it-a-blessing-to-visit-pope-francis-shortly-before-death\/"},"modified":"2025-04-23T10:52:38","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T14:52:38","slug":"vance-calls-it-a-blessing-to-visit-pope-francis-shortly-before-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vance-calls-it-a-blessing-to-visit-pope-francis-shortly-before-death\/","title":{"rendered":"Vance calls it a \u2018blessing\u2019 to visit Pope Francis shortly before death"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fvance-calls-it-a-blessing-to-visit-pope-francis-shortly-before-death%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2426416&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Vice president JD Vance expressed that it was a &#8220;blessing&#8221; to be among the last people to meet Pope Francis before his death. Vance met the pope on Easter Sunday at the Vatican, unaware that Francis would pass away less than 24 hours later. Reflecting on the encounter, Vance emphasized the impact Francis had on many lives, noting his gratitude for the chance to shake his hand and offer prayers. <\/p>\n<p>Despite vance&#8217;s warm remarks, he acknowledged their differing views on certain political issues, particularly immigration policies criticized by Francis. When questioned about the pope&#8217;s legacy and his relationship with American politics, Vance defended Francis&#8217;s broader significance beyond the U.S., choosing not to politicize the situation considering the pope&#8217;s death. He refrained from sharing opinions on the next pope or his attendance at the funeral, as former President Trump announced plans to attend and honour Francis with flags at half-staff.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Vance calls it a &lsquo;blessing&rsquo; to visit Pope Francis shortly before death<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2101554\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jd-vance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"JD Vance\">JD Vance<\/a> said it was a &ldquo;blessing&rdquo; to be one of the last people to see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pope-francis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Pope Francis\">Pope Francis<\/a> alive while chiding the media for questioning him over Francis&rsquo;s immigration views.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve thought a lot about that,&rdquo; Vance said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s pretty crazy, actually. Obviously, when I saw him, I didn&rsquo;t know that he had less than 24 hours still on this Earth. I think it was a great blessing. But, you know, I think he saw a lot of people. I think he affected a lot of lives.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3388456\/russia-ukraine-peace-deal-vance-suggests-us-walk-away\/\">Vance suggests US will &#8216;walk away&#8217; if Russia-Ukraine peace deal is rejected<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3387261\/international-tourism-decline-us-trump-administration-immigration-crack-down\/\">International tourism to US takes a hit under Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3388328\/elon-musk-doge-involvement-drop-may-tesla-earnings\/\">Musk&#8217;s work with DOGE to &#8216;drop significantly&#8217; in May as Tesla reels<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Vance, who is a Catholic convert, met briefly with Francis at the Vatican on Easter Sunday. Francis died early Monday morning, making Vance one of the last people to see him alive.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I try to just remember that 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,&rdquo; Vance said while speaking to the media in Agra, India.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the warm words, Vance and Francis have not always seen eye to eye on political matters, especially on the hot-button topic of illegal immigration.<\/p>\n<p>Francis <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3333328\/vance-leads-prayer-pope-catholic-breakfast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"criticized\">criticized<\/a> the Trump administration in February over its actions to arrest and deport illegal immigrants, saying it would &ldquo;end badly.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Vance also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3333328\/vance-leads-prayer-pope-catholic-breakfast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"suggested\">said<\/a> the Catholic Church was &ldquo;worried about their bottom line&rdquo; after criticizing Trump&rsquo;s immigration policy. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops countered that it spent more money than it received for providing services to migrants.<\/p>\n<p>However, when asked about those matters in the wake of Francis&rsquo;s death, Vance said now is not the time.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In his final Easter message that the archbishop read in St. Peter&rsquo;s Square, he talked about not stirring up contempt against the vulnerable and migrants, and the logic of fear not being something world leaders should yield to. Do you have any thoughts on that, and has his death caused you at all to reflect on the policies of the Trump administration?&rdquo; a reporter asked Vance.<\/p>\n<p>Vance took umbrage with the premise of the question.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;A lot of people, especially in the American press, want to make the Holy Father, his entire legacy, and even his death, about American politics,&rdquo; Vance said. &ldquo;He was obviously a much broader figure than the United States of America.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The vice president added that he was &ldquo;aware&rdquo; that Francis disagreed with the Trump administration. However, he said they agreed on other matters and that he would not &ldquo;soil the man&rsquo;s legacy&rdquo; by talking about politics.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-transform:uppercase\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3384321\/vance-optimistic-ukraine-war-ending-rubio-warns-us-move-on\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Vance &lsquo;optimistic&rsquo; about Ukraine war ending as Rubio warns US could &lsquo;move on&rsquo;\">Vance &lsquo;optimistic&rsquo; about Ukraine war ending as Rubio warns US could &lsquo;move on&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Vance declined to share any thoughts on who he would like to see become the next pope. He also did not say whether he would attend Francis&rsquo;s funeral, which will be held in Rome.<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump announced he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3386791\/trump-pope-francis-funeral-rome\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"will attend\">would attend<\/a> the funeral with first lady Melania Trump and ordered flags to be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3385814\/trump-remembrance-pope-francis-death\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"flown at half-staff\">flown at half-staff<\/a> in Francis&rsquo;s honor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2101554\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2101554\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vance calls visiting Pope Francis before his death a &#8220;blessing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2635,"featured_media":2426417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/JD-Vance-Pope-Francis.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2426416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/JD-Vance-Pope-Francis.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2426416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2635"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2426416"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2426416\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2426419,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2426416\/revisions\/2426419"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2426417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2426416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2426416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2426416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}