VATICAN CITY — Vatican officials were not sure what to do with Vice President J.D. Vance.
Since taking office, Mr. Vance has earned the ire of Pope Francis, who called Mr. Vance’s controversial defense of the Trump administration’s migrant crackdowns and curbing of foreign aid a “disgrace.”
Yet Mr. Vance — just the second Catholic to serve as vice president (Joseph R. Biden was the first) — was in Rome for Easter, the most important date on the Catholic calendar. And the pope, who was hospitalized for 38 days in February and March with life-threatening respiratory issues, is clearly on the mend, appearing in public three times during Holy Week.
Snubbing Mr. Vance would have been unprecedented.
In the end, Pope Francis and Mr. Vance met at the pope’s residence on Sunday for “a few minutes in order to exchange good wishes on Easter Sunday,” according to a brief Vatican statement. A video the Vatican released showed that the frail pontiff barely spoke during the encounter, though the pope’s translator thanked the vice-president for his visit.
After the meeting, Francis delivered an Easter message denouncing what he called the “logic of fear” before touring St. Peter’s Square in his “popemobile” and waving to the tens of thousands of faithful on hand for the celebration.
“It was a great thrill,” said Baltimore native Charlotte Penny, a 41-year-old municipal worker in Rome with her family on vacation. “I was afraid his health problems would mean he’d have to rest. My heart jumped when he appeared on the balcony and then was driven outside to see everyone.”
Ms. Penny’s views were echoed by many in the Easter crowd at St. Peter’s Square.
The most substantial meeting for Mr. Vance at the Vatican took place a day earlier with Francis’ top diplomat, Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. In a reportedly tense closed-door meeting, Cardinal Parolin lectured Vance about the importance of charity, the treatment of refugees, and the need for humanitarian aid amid global tensions.
While in Italy, Mr. Vance also met with pro-Trump Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for the second time in as many days. “I’ve been missing you,” Ms. Meloni joked to Mr. Vance.
They met on Friday in Rome, the day after they’d seen each other at the White House along with President Trump and other top administration officials.
Despite their difference of opinion, Mr. Vance and the pontiff ended their brief encounter on a positive note. Francis gave the vice-president an array of symbolic gifts, including a dark-colored Vatican tie, red rosary beads for him, white ones for Second Lady Usha Vance and their two children, as well as oversized chocolate Easter eggs for the children. Afterwards, Vance appeared in a photo with Francis, who remained seated in his wheelchair.
“I know you have not been feeling great, but it’s good to see you in better health,” Mr. Vance told the pope, according to the Associated Press. “Thank you for seeing me.”
