Pope gives traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing after surprise meeting with JD Vance
Elise Ann Allen/ Crux• April 20, 2025
ROME. Pope Francis has appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to deliver the traditional Urbi et Orbi Easter blessing, to the city and to the world. The blessing took place after Mass in St Peter’s Square, which was celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the Italian archpriest emeritus of the basilica.
Speaking with a raspy and weak voice, Pope Francis wished his hearers a happy Easter, and said he would ask an aide, papal master of ceremonies Archbishop Diego Ravelli, to read his prepared Easter message, in which he prayed for peace in the world, especially in global hotspots ranging from Ukraine and Gaza to Myanmar and South Sudan.
The 88-year-old pontiff is recovering from a 38-day hospital stay for a complex respiratory infection and double pneumonia. He was discharged on March 23 and has continued drug, respiratory, motor and speech therapy. While in theory observing a two-month period of rest, he has made several surprise appearances and select outings.
Another surprise came just before Sunday morning’s Mass came to an end, when Pope Francis met privately with US vice president JD Vance. A statement from the Vatican announced that “this morning, just after 11:30 am, at the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis had a brief private meeting with the Vice President of the United States.”
“The encounter, which lasted a few minutes, provided the opportunity to exchange Easter greetings,” the statement said. Vance reportedly attended a private Mass in St Peter’s Basilica with his family at 7:40 am and returned to meet with Pope Francis ahead of the traditional midday blessing.
Vance arrived in Italy on Good Friday for his first official state visit to Italy and the Vatican since last year’s US presidential election. He met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that morning before attending the Solemn Liturgy of the Passion in St Peter’s Basilica.
Yesterday he met with the Holy See’s Secretary of State, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Secretary for Relations with States, British Archbishop Paul Gallagher. According to the Vatican, the parties had “an exchange of opinions” on a variety of issues including the contentious topic of migration, as well as religious freedom, global conflicts, difficult humanitarian situations, and prisoners.
Other issues “of mutual interest were also discussed,” a Vatican statement said, but did not provide further details. Hope was also expressed for “serene collaboration” between the government and the Catholic Church in the US, “whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged”.
A statement from Vance said the two sides discussed “their shared religious faith, Catholicism in the United States, the plight of persecuted Christian communities around the world, and President Trump’s commitment to restoring world peace”.
The Easter greeting between the Pope and Vance came as a surprise, as many observers had expected a meeting to happen on Saturday, when Vance was at the Vatican for his meetings with Parolin and Gallagher. It is highly unusual for the Pope to meet heads of state and other top government officials on major religious feasts, let alone during the celebration of a major liturgy.