Why did Pope Francis officially refuse to meet JD Vance in Rome? Pontiff sends cardinal on behalf of Vatican

Pope Francis did not meet US vice president JD officially in Rome; instead, Vance had a meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin on behalf of the Vatican.

The pope, who recently recovered from pneumonia, also skipped the Good Friday service at St Peter’s Basilica attended by Vance, although he has returned to limited public engagements—including a surprise visit to a Roman prison on Holy Thursday.

Inside Vatican sources later told Sky News that Vance briefly greeted the pope at his residence, but no details were released. Vance officially, and the Vatican made no mention of any private meeting in its formal statements.

Why didn’t the Pope meet Vance?

Tensions have been high since Vance accused the Church of using migrant advocacy for financial gain. In response, the pope called mass deportations a “disgrace” and reaffirmed the Church’s duty to love all, without exception.”

In January, Vance stirred controversy by citing the medieval Catholic idea of ordo amoris—a ranking of love that puts family and nation above outsiders—to justify the administration’s mass deportation plans.

Pope Francis responded with a rare public correction in a 10 February letter to US bishops, emphasising that Christian love must be “open to all, without exception,” not inward-looking.

The Vatican press release following the Parolin meeting noted discussions on war, humanitarian crises, and Church-state cooperation, with special attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners.

However, a separate statement from Vance’s office omitted any mention of migration—a key point of disagreement between the Trump administration and Pope Francis.