Vice President JD Vance’s brief Easter Sunday meeting with Pope Francis—just hours before the Pontiff’s death—has unleashed a tidal wave of conspiracies, satire, and fierce political commentary, as internet sleuths and public figures dissect every frame of the now-viral Vatican visit.
At a Glance
- Vance met Pope Francis on Easter Sunday, hours before the Pope’s death
- Vatican said the meeting included discussions on war and migration
- Social media erupted with conspiracy theories and partisan jabs
- Footage of the meeting has racked up tens of thousands of views
- Vatican expressed hope for continued U.S.-Church collaboration
A Meeting and a Death—Too Close for Comfort?
On April 20, 2025, Vice President JD Vance visited the Vatican and briefly met with Pope Francis following talks with senior church officials. Just hours later, Pope Francis died at age 88, prompting immediate speculation and triggering a frenzy of online theories linking the two events.
Though the meeting was largely ceremonial—Vance offered Easter greetings and prayers for the Pontiff’s health—it became the subject of intense media and public attention. The Euronews report described the encounter as part of broader diplomatic exchanges centered on humanitarian issues, especially global migration.
Watch Euronews’ report on the incident at Inside Pope Francis’ ‘frank exchange’ with JD Vance before passing.
Online Speculation Spirals Into Frenzy
Social media platforms lit up with bizarre and baseless theories, accusing Vance of everything from poisoning to psychic interference. A Hindustan Times story cataloged user reactions, many of which echoed a cynical blend of paranoia and parody. One tweet with tens of thousands of views asked: “What did you DO, JD?”
Much of the chatter appeared to blend humor and suspicion, echoing past satirical claims, like the debunked internet myth alleging Vance’s involvement in a bizarre “couch incident”—a running gag recently revived by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who quipped, “I wouldn’t trust them to move my couch,” according to Newsweek.
A Fractured Diplomatic Moment
Behind the noise, however, real political tensions lay beneath the surface. Vance’s visit came amid ongoing friction between the Vatican and U.S. leadership over immigration policies. Pope Francis had previously criticized Trump-aligned positions on refugees, while Vance, a Catholic convert since 2019, has defended restrictive measures.
Still, the Vatican struck a conciliatory tone. In its official statement, officials said the parties engaged in a “frank exchange” on “international situations,” including migration, and expressed a desire for “serene collaboration between the State and the Catholic Church” moving forward. That sentiment was documented by Euronews.
The Politics of Grief and Viral Conjecture
As the world mourns Pope Francis, who led the Church through a transformative decade, JD Vance finds himself at the center of a storm not for what he did—but when he did it. While there is zero evidence of wrongdoing, the suspicious timing and emotionally charged setting have proved fertile ground for conspiracy-minded corners of the web.
The Vatican has not linked the Pope’s death to any visitor or interaction that day. But the intersection of grief, politics, and internet culture has ensured this story won’t fade quietly. As partisan media seize the moment, the line between mourning and maneuvering continues to blur.
