WASHINGTON (AP) — One among Pope Francis’ ultimate encounters earlier than his dying was with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who visited the Vatican over the weekend.
The meeting happened on Easter Sunday. Vance, a Catholic convert, entered the room and reached down for the pope’s hand. “Hey,” the vice chairman stated. “So good to see you.”
Francis was sitting in a wheelchair, and his phrases had been inaudible in a video launched by the Vatican.
“I do know you’ve not been feeling nice, however it’s good see you in higher well being,” Vance stated.
A priest serving as a translator spoke for the pope.
“These are to your youngsters,” the priest stated as somebody offered Vance with chocolate eggs. Subsequent got here a tray of extra items, together with rosaries and a Vatican tie.
“Thanks,” Vance stated as he held the darkish tie. “So stunning.”
They posed for a photograph, Vance standing to the pope’s proper earlier than bidding him farewell.
“I pray for you day-after-day,” Vance stated. “God bless you.”
Vance’s go to was not with out political sensitivities, and he met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Saturday for what the Vatican described as “an trade of opinions.” The Catholic Church, beneath Francis’ management, has championed the rights of migrants, whereas Vance and President Donald Trump have advocated for crackdowns.
Vance’s workplace stated the vice chairman and the cardinal “mentioned their shared non secular religion, Catholicism in the USA, the plight of persecuted Christian communities all over the world, and President Trump’s dedication to restoring world peace.”
Leavitt instructed reporters that she had spoken to members of Vance’s workforce on Monday morning after Francis’ dying.
“They expressed how excited and grateful they had been for the chance to have met with the pope simply yesterday,” she stated.
Leavitt added that Francis “touched thousands and thousands of lives all through his tenure as the top of the Catholic Church and so it’s a solemn day for Catholics all over the world and we’re praying for all those that liked the pope and believed in him.”
President Donald Trump issued an announcement on Reality Social: “Relaxation in Peace Pope Francis! Might God Bless him and all who liked him!”
Vance, who continued on to India after Italy, posted extra ideas on social media.
“I simply realized of the passing of Pope Francis. My coronary heart goes out to the thousands and thousands of Christians everywhere in the world who liked him,” he wrote on X. “I used to be glad to see him yesterday, although he was clearly very in poor health.”
Vance shared a link to remarks that Francis gave on March 27, 2020, as COVID-19 was spreading across the globe.
“I’ll all the time bear in mind him for the beneath homily he gave within the very early days of COVID,” Vance wrote. “It was actually fairly stunning.”
Francis had spoken from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
“Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities,” he stated. “It has taken over our lives, filling every thing with a deafening silence and a distressing void.”
He inspired folks to depend on their religion to assist then endure “as a result of with God life by no means dies.”
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