Vice President JD Vance offered a solemn tribute to Pope Francis following news of the pontiff’s passing at 88 after a long bout with pneumonia. The announcement came just hours after the two men met briefly at the Vatican on Easter Sunday—an encounter filled with both symbolism and subtle tension.
“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… May God rest his soul.”
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…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025
Vance, a Catholic convert since 2019, acknowledged a moving early-pandemic homily that he said would always stay with him. His tone was respectful. His sentiment was sincere. But make no mistake—the late pope leaves behind a complicated legacy that many faithful Catholics and patriotic Americans found deeply troubling.
While it’s natural to honor the dead, conservatives must also confront the facts: Pope Francis repeatedly used his pulpit to undermine Western sovereignty, scold border enforcement, and cozy up to globalist narratives that sound more like George Soros than St. Peter.
Just months before his passing, the pope went out of his way to blast the Trump administration’s common-sense immigration policy. In a letter to U.S. bishops, he accused America of creating a “major crisis” by deporting illegal aliens who “left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty.” Not a word, however, about the criminal cartels exploiting that poverty. Not a breath about the fentanyl flooding across our borders. Not a whisper for the Angel Families who’ve lost loved ones to the chaos he so flippantly criticized.
The pope’s letter read more like a UN policy brief than a Christian appeal. “The act of deporting people… damages the dignity of many men and women,” he wrote. But what about the dignity of American citizens left to deal with skyrocketing crime, bankrupt hospitals, and overwhelmed schools?
It’s no secret that Pope Francis viewed Donald Trump’s America First agenda with suspicion, if not outright contempt. And it’s equally no secret that many American Catholics—particularly those in working-class communities—felt betrayed by a pope who seemed more interested in defending open borders than defending the sanctity of life or the persecuted faithful.
Let’s also remember that while Pope Francis spoke volumes about “climate change” and “social justice,” he was often painfully silent on the global persecution of Christians, including those being slaughtered in Africa and the Middle East. Under his watch, the Vatican cozied up to the Chinese Communist Party in a deal that left underground Catholics in China more vulnerable than ever.
That’s not to say he didn’t show kindness. During their Easter meeting, the pope gave Vance three chocolate eggs for his children—a small but touching gesture. There’s room for grace in every legacy. But symbolism without substance can’t hide years of political meddling dressed up in clerical robes.
JD Vance handled the moment with humility. He respected the man and comforted the faithful. But as we reflect on Pope Francis’ tenure, conservatives must be honest: we need spiritual leaders who uplift Christian values—not undermine Western civilization. We need shepherds who guard the flock, not ones who throw open the gates.
As America grapples with the challenges of border security, religious liberty, and national identity, the next leader of the Catholic Church must decide: Will they stand with the faithful—or stand in the way?
