During this Resurrection Sunday, a discreet but symbolic encounter marked the Easter celebrations at the Vatican. The Holy Father granted a brief private audience to the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, on the margins of the liturgical solemnities. According to a Holy See communiqué dated April 20, the two men exchanged Easter greetings at the Casa Santa Marta, the papal residence, moments before the Urbi et Orbi blessing.
This meeting, though brief, takes place within a tense diplomatic context, notably on the issue of migration, where the positions of the Vatican and the American administration diverge. The day before, Mr. Vance had met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, responsible for relations with States. The discussions, described as "cordial" by the Vatican, addressed religious freedom, global conflicts, and the plight of persecuted Christians, themes dear to American diplomacy.
Having arrived in Rome on Friday, the Vice President had previously met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and participated in the Good Friday service in St. Peter's Basilica. On Saturday, after discussions at the Vatican, he attended the Easter Mass at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, under the leadership of Cardinal James Harvey.
It was, however, at the heart of the Sunday celebrations that the Pope's gesture was surprising. As the Easter Mass, presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, concluded in St. Peter's Square, the Successor of Peter reserved a moment for the American leader before delivering his traditional blessing from the central Loggia. Weakened by a prolonged convalescence—hospitalized for 38 days for a respiratory infection—the 88-year-old Pontiff entrusted the reading of his message to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Master of Ceremonies. Calling for peace in Ukraine, Gaza, and South Sudan, he insisted on the necessity to "build bridges in the face of the world's divisions."
Despite medical recommendations urging rest, Francis has multiplied his pastoral gestures in recent days: a visit to the Regina Coeli prison on Holy Thursday, a surprise appearance at the Easter Vigil... An engagement that contrasts with the usual reserve surrounding major feast days, where official audiences are rare.
While some anticipated a possible meeting between the Pope and Mr. Vance as early as Saturday, the brevity of their exchange on Sunday morning underscores both the uniqueness of the event and the persistent challenges between Rome and Washington. In a statement, the American delegation hailed the "shared faith" and the efforts of President Trump to "restore peace," while the Vatican expressed hope for a "serene collaboration" with the Church in the United States, thanked for its service "towards the most fragile."
A sober meeting, then, but laden with meaning, in the image of a Pontificate marked by unexpected gestures and tireless calls for unity.