The United States vice president, JD Vance, is participating with his family this Good Friday in the Liturgy of the Word that officiates the prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, Cardinal Claudio Gugeriti, in the Basilica of San Pedro on behalf of Pope Francis.
The Vatican television cameras captured the American politician, sitting in the first banks of the Basilica of San Pedro, with his daughter Mirabel in his arms.
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He was also accompanied by his wife Usha Vance, of his other two children Ewan and Vivek, and a large entourage of collaborators.
Vance who is an official visit in Rome, launched a message on social networks a few minutes before in which he wished “all Christians in the world, and in particular to those of the United States”, a happy Good Friday.
“He died so that we could live”, He wrote on social networks after meeting with the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, in the Chigi Palace, headquarters of the Italian government.
Vance, who is doing a diplomatic tour in Europe that will then continue in India, had also reported by this social network that he was going to attend a religious ceremony with his family but had not specified in which one.
I’m grateful every day for this job, but particularly today where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday. I had a great meeting with Prime Minister Meloni and her team, and will head to church soon with my family in this beautiful city.
I wish all Christians…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) April 18, 2025
“I am grateful every day for this work, but particularly today, when my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday. I had a great meeting with Prime Minister Meloni and his team, and soon I will go to church with my family in this beautiful city,” he said.
He added: “I want all the Christians in the world, and in particular to those of the United States, a happy Good Friday. He died so that we could live.”
In any case, the White House had previously confirmed a bilateral meeting in the Vatican between JD Vance and the Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, although at the moment no more details of this appointment have been given.
The visit of the second in command of the US government occurred just one day after the meeting between Meloni and President Donald Trump in Washington, in an attempt to file roughness between Europe and the US on key issues such as tariffs and the current commercial war.
After the meeting, the Italian leader reiterated her call to “make a big West again”, aligning with Trump’s motto.
Victoria Cardiel
Victoria Cardiel is a journalist specialized in social and religious information issues. Since 2013, he has covered all the news of the Vatican for various media, such as the Spanish news agency Europa Press, or the weekly of the Archdiocese of Madrid, Alfa and Omega.