Pope Francis Greets Easter Crowds from St. Peter’s Balcony After Brief Meeting with Vice President JD Vance

VATICAN CITY — On Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, Pope Francis appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing, addressing tens of thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square and millions watching worldwide. The 88-year-old pontiff, still recovering from a recent bout of double pneumonia, appeared visibly frail but resolute, offering a message of hope, peace, and renewal in the face of global challenges. Earlier that morning, Francis held a brief private meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at his residence, Casa Santa Marta, a moment that underscored both diplomatic courtesy and underlying tensions over immigration policy.

A Resilient Easter Blessing

Despite health concerns that forced the cancellation of several Holy Week engagements, including the Good Friday Via Crucis at the Colosseum, Pope Francis presided over the Easter Sunday Mass inside St. Peter’s Basilica before ascending to the balcony for the Urbi et Orbi address. Clad in white vestments, he called for peace in conflict zones such as Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, and urged global leaders to prioritize human dignity and solidarity. “The Risen Christ brings light to a world often darkened by division and suffering,” Francis said, his voice steady but softer than in previous years. He also reiterated his call for compassion toward migrants and refugees, a theme that has defined his 12-year papacy.

The Easter Sunday appearance was a testament to Francis’s determination to fulfill his pastoral duties despite physical limitations. Vatican sources reported that the Pope, who has used a wheelchair since 2022 due to mobility issues, relied on a reduced schedule to conserve energy. His medical team monitored him closely throughout the day, and he returned to Casa Santa Marta immediately after the blessing to rest.

A Diplomatic Encounter with JD Vance

Hours before the Easter Mass, Pope Francis welcomed Vice President JD Vance for a brief private audience at Casa Santa Marta. The meeting, lasting approximately 10 minutes, was described by Vatican officials as a courteous exchange of Easter greetings. Vance, a Catholic convert since 2019 and a prominent figure in the Trump administration, was in Rome for a series of engagements, including attending Good Friday services at St. Peter’s Basilica and holding discussions with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Italian government officials.

The encounter carried a layer of complexity due to recent public disagreements between Francis and the Trump administration, particularly over immigration policy. Since taking office in January 2025, the administration has accelerated mass deportation efforts, a policy Vance has vocally defended. In a February 2025 interview, Vance invoked the Catholic theological concept of ordo amoris—the order of love, prioritizing one’s immediate community—to justify prioritizing American citizens over undocumented migrants. Pope Francis, in a pointed response during a March general audience, criticized the use of the term as a distortion of Christian ethics, stating, “Human dignity knows no borders, and the Gospel calls us to love all, not to exclude.”

Despite these tensions, the meeting remained cordial. According to posts on X, Francis gifted Vance a Vatican-made tie, a set of blessed rosary beads, and a basket of Easter eggs for his three children. Vance, in turn, expressed admiration for the Pope’s resilience and offered prayers for his recovery, saying, “Your Holiness’s commitment to the Church in the face of illness is an inspiration.” Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni declined to comment on whether immigration was discussed, emphasizing the meeting’s brevity and festive context.

Vance’s Rome Visit in Context

Vance’s presence in Rome coincided with a broader diplomatic itinerary. On Good Friday, he attended the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at St. Peter’s Basilica, joining pilgrims and dignitaries in a service led by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, the preacher of the papal household. On Saturday, Vance met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss transatlantic cooperation on trade and security, as well as shared concerns about migration flows across the Mediterranean. His Vatican engagements, including a 30-minute meeting with Cardinal Parolin on April 18, focused on U.S.-Holy See relations, climate change, and religious freedom.

Vance’s Catholic faith, which he embraced after a period of atheism, has been a cornerstone of his political identity. In his 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy and subsequent campaigns, he has cited Catholic social teaching as an influence, though his interpretation often aligns with conservative priorities. His visit to the Vatican, the first by a senior Trump administration official since the 2025 inauguration, was seen as an effort to strengthen ties with the Holy See while navigating ideological differences.

A Papacy Under Strain

For Pope Francis, the Easter Sunday events capped a challenging Holy Week marked by health setbacks and intense public scrutiny. His double pneumonia, diagnosed in late March, forced him to delegate several duties, including the Palm Sunday homily, to aides. The Vatican has sought to manage concerns about his longevity, with Francis himself joking during a recent interview, “I’m still here, and I have work to do.” His decision to meet Vance and deliver the Urbi et Orbi blessing underscored his commitment to his role as a global moral voice, even as he faces physical frailty and political headwinds.

The meeting with Vance also highlighted Francis’s approach to diplomacy: engaging with critics while holding firm to his principles. His critique of mass deportation policies aligns with his broader advocacy for migrants, seen in initiatives like the 2019 Global Compact for Migration and his 2023 visit to a refugee camp in Lesbos, Greece. Yet, by receiving Vance, Francis signaled a willingness to maintain open channels with the Trump administration, which has prioritized domestic economic growth and border security.

Reactions and Reflections

The Pope’s Easter appearance and the Vance meeting sparked varied reactions online. On X, some users praised Francis’s stamina and moral clarity, with one post reading, “Pope Francis at 88, sick but still calling out injustice—what a leader.” Others criticized the meeting with Vance, with a user writing, “Why give a platform to someone who twists Catholic teaching for political gain?” Supporters of Vance, meanwhile, highlighted his outreach to the Vatican, with one post noting, “JD showing respect to the Pope while standing up for America—class act.”

As the Easter festivities concluded, St. Peter’s Square emptied, but the images of a frail yet determined Pope and a polarizing American vice president lingered. For Francis, the day was a balancing act of spiritual leadership and diplomatic nuance, reinforcing his role as a bridge-builder in a divided world. For Vance, it was a chance to engage with the heart of Catholicism while representing an administration at odds with the Vatican’s vision on key issues. As the global Church celebrated Christ’s resurrection, the encounter between these two figures underscored the complex interplay of faith, politics, and human dignity in 2025.