VP Vance Attends Vatican Good Friday Despite Rift with Pope/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who has publicly clashed with Pope Francis over immigration policy, attended the Good Friday service at the Vatican. Though Pope Francis was absent due to illness, Vance’s visit underscores continued tensions between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church over the treatment of migrants.
Vance and Vatican – Quick Look
- JD Vance attended Good Friday service at St. Peter’s Basilica with his family.
- Pope Francis was absent, recovering from double pneumonia.
- Vance and the Vatican have clashed over immigration, with the pope calling U.S. deportation plans a “disgrace.”
- A formal meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin is scheduled for Saturday.
- The U.S. bishops’ conference ended a 50-year federal partnership over funding cuts.
Vice President Vance Attends Good Friday Mass at Vatican Amid Immigration Dispute
Deep Looks
VATICAN CITY (April 18, 2025) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance, a practicing Catholic and a vocal defender of the Trump administration’s hardline immigration stance, attended a solemn Good Friday service at the Vatican, just weeks after renewed tensions between the White House and Pope Francis over mass deportation policies.
Vance entered St. Peter’s Basilica with his wife, Usha, and their three children, cradling one of them in his arms during the Passion of the Lord ceremony, which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The vice president is in Italy with his family for the Easter weekend.
Notably absent was Pope Francis, who continues to recover from a bout of double pneumonia and is limiting his public schedule at the advice of doctors.
Policy Clash with the Pope
Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, has previously used medieval-era Catholic doctrine to defend the Trump administration’s plan to deport millions of undocumented migrants. Pope Francis has sharply condemned the policy, calling it a “disgrace” and a violation of the dignity owed to all people.
In an unusually direct move earlier this year, Francis addressed U.S. bishops in an open letter, refuting the theological justifications put forth by Vance and urging the Church to oppose any approach to immigration “built on the basis of force.”
“What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly,” the pope wrote in February.
Despite the papal rebuke, Vance has continued to frame immigration control as a moral imperative rooted in Church history.
Upcoming Vatican Meeting
While Pope Francis is unlikely to meet with Vance directly, the vice president is scheduled to meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State and second in command. The meeting is expected to address U.S.-Vatican tensions, particularly on immigration and social welfare.
“We pray that the meeting yields positive and engaging dialogue,” said Chieko Noguchi, spokesperson for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which recently ended a decades-long partnership with the federal government to provide refugee and migrant services due to budget cuts.
The bishops have also raised concerns over the Trump administration’s reductions in foreign aid and domestic welfare, citing negative effects on faith-based outreach and assistance programs.
A Politically Charged Visit
Vance’s visit comes during a volatile moment in Church-State relations, where theological, humanitarian, and political ideals are sharply divided. While the vice president’s presence at one of Catholicism’s holiest observances was largely respectful, the symbolism of his attendance amid policy clashes has not gone unnoticed.
Vance has not publicly commented on whether he will attend Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, though Vatican officials have yet to confirm whether Pope Francis will preside over that ceremony.
The tension surrounding his visit echoes larger debates within Catholic communities globally, where divisions over immigration, social justice, and the role of faith in politics continue to intensify.
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