Vance to Attend Inaugural Mass of Critic Pope

Vice President JD Vance is returning to Rome this weekend for the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV, just weeks after a visit coinciding with the death of Pope Francis. The Bloomberg-reported trip marks Vance’s second Vatican visit in two months, following a meeting with Pope Francis shortly before the pontiff’s passing on Easter Monday. Online speculation, fueled by the timing of the visits, falsely linked Vance’s presence to Francis’s death, though the Pope had been hospitalized prior.

Vance, the highest-ranking Catholic in the U.S. government – followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio – will attend the mass alongside his wife. Both men converted to Catholicism; Vance in 2019. The ceremony, to be held in St. Peter’s Square, will formally install Leo as pope – a historic occasion as he is the first pope born in the United States.

While attendance suggests diplomatic courtesy, the event could prove awkward. Pope Leo, previously Cardinal Prevost, has publicly criticized Vance’s interpretation of Catholic doctrine. Earlier this year, Prevost used X, formerly known as Twitter, to rebuke Vance, stating, “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.” Pope Francis also voiced criticism of the Vice President and President Trump, prompting Vance to dismiss himself as a “baby Catholic” with much to learn.

Both Vance and President Trump extended congratulations to Pope Leo upon his ascension.

The new pope, 69, was born and raised in Chicago, is a supporter of the White Sox, and holds dual citizenship with Peru, where he served impoverished communities before becoming a cardinal. The choice of “Leo XIV” as his papal name intentionally echoes the legacy of Leo XIII, who championed the rights of workers during the late 19th-century industrial revolution.

Other expected attendees include Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

It’s a fascinating, and potentially tense, dynamic. The Vatican is skilled at navigating political complexities, but the open disagreements between Pope Leo and Vice President Vance add an unusual layer to this traditionally ceremonial event. The situation highlights the increasingly blurred lines between faith and politics, and how even within a shared religion, significant ideological divides can exist at the highest levels of power. Whether this tension will be publicly addressed remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly adds an intriguing subtext to Pope Leo’s inauguration.