JD Vance issues statement after Pope Francis dies within hours of their meeting
JD Vance has spoken out after Pope Francis dies within hours of their meeting on Easter Sunday.
Earlier this morning, it was confirmed that Pope Francis had passed away following months of illness and a five week stay in hospital. Confirming the news in a statement, Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Ferrell said: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.
"At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father."
The former leader of the Catholic Church had previously spent five weeks in hospital due to complications from double pneumonia.
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Tributes to the 88-year-old have since begun to flood in from world leaders, with many praising Pope Francis for his views on the environment and the decriminalisation of homosexuality.
US Vice President JD Vance has now reacted to the news, with the pair having previously met yesterday (20 April).
"I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him," Vance wrote on X.
"I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill."
The 40-year-old went on to share a piece of religious discourse, which Pope Francis had shared during the Covid-19 pandemic, adding: "But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful.
"May God rest his soul."
Vance had been granted an audience with the Vatican leader on Sunday morning, in which the Catholic leader gifted the Vice President chocolate eggs for his children as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries.
"I know you have not been feeling great, but it’s good to see you in better health," Vance told the pontiff, adding: "Thank you for seeing me."
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Vance's meeting with the pope was highly publicised, as the pontiff had previously disagreed with the Trump administration's views on immigration.
Addressing bishops from the US Roman Catholic church back in February, Pope Francis said Trump's mass deportations would lead to a 'major crisis' which damaged the 'dignity of men and women.'
"I have followed closely the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a program of mass deportations," he wrote.
"The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality."
Topics: JD Vance, World News, Pope Francis
Brenna Cooper