When did JD Vance convert to Catholicism? Pope Francis briefly met the vice president to exchange Easter greetings hours before his death 

The first Latin American to be the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, passed away at the age of 88 on April 21, 2025, as reported by the Vatican. While a specific cause of death hasn't been revealed yet, the Pope suffered from respiratory illness and declining health and was recently hospitalized as well.

While the Pope's demise has garnered tributes from all over the world, Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, took to X to share a heartfelt tribute, sharing that he met with the head of the Catholic Church a day before his death. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, wrote:

"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. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. 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 has talked about his journey to Catholicism in his 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy and an essay in the Easter 2020 issue of Catholic magazine, The Lamp. The Vice President of the US credits Catholic faith with helping him with his temper, patience, and practicing forgiveness. In his essay regarding his conversion, Vance mentioned:

“I realized that there was a part of me — the best part — that took its cues from Catholicism.”

JD Vance met with Pope Francis at the Domus Santa Marta for a few moments, wherein they exchanged Easter greetings on April 20, 2025. The late Pope gave the US Vice President 3 big chocolate Easter eggs for his three kids, along with rosaries and a Vatican tie.

Thanking the late Pope for seeing him, JD Vance said at the time:

“I know you have not been feeling great but it’s good to see you in better health.”

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What did Pope Francis say about mass deportations? Head of the Catholic Church's recent comment explored amid news of demise

On February 10, 2025, Pope Francis wrote a letter on the official Vatican website addressing the issue of mass deportation in the US under the Trump administration. The President of the US has promised the mass deportation of immigrants, which caused a stir globally and came under the late Pope's observation as well.

Addressing the "major crisis that is taking place in the United States," which he followed closely, Pope Francis wrote in the letter:

"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."

The late Pope added that one must also recognize the nation's right to defend itself and safeguard the communities from those who have committed serious or violent crimes in the country or before arriving in the region.

Criticizing mass deportation, Pope Francis said that it damages the dignity of men, women, and families and places them in a state of vulnerability and defenselessness. He said that in many cases, the immigrants being deported had left their land due to reasons like "extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment."

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The Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, announced Pope Francis' demise at 9:45 AM on April 21, 2025, from the Casa Santa Marta. The Pope was hospitalized on February 14, 2025, at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital and was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia on February 18, 2025.

Then, the former head of the Catholic Church returned to his Vatican residence to continue his recovery after 38 days of hospitalization.