Trump releases statement following the death of Pope Francis

The Catholic Herald• April 21, 2025

Donald Trump, the president of the United States, has released a brief statement expressing his condolences following the death of Pope Francis. The statement, posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, reads: “Rest in peace Pope Francis! May God bless him and all who loved him!”

Pope Francis and Donald Trump had a tense and ideologically divided relationship, particularly over immigration and social policy. The relationship remained formally diplomatic, but was often marked by visible unease and diverging visions of moral responsibility.

In 2016, Pope Francis criticised Trump’s plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border, saying: “A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.” Trump responded that it was “disgraceful” for a religious leader to question someone’s faith.

Their differences continued during Trump’s presidency and again during his return to office. In 2025, Pope Francis condemned the renewed plans for mass deportations, calling them a “disgrace”, and warned that policies built on force rather than human dignity “begin badly and will end badly”.

JD Vance, a practising Catholic who met the Pontiff shortly before his death, gave a longer and more sentimental statement. Vance wrote on X: “I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.

“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul.”

Vance attached the homily – the Urbi et Orbi blessing delivered on 27 March 2020 – which called for faith and solidarity, urging people to trust in God’s presence amid the pandemic and to rediscover the importance of prayer and service. In it, the Holy Father reflects: “We have realised that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed.”

It is unknown whether Trump will attend the funeral in person or send a delegation. President George W. Bush attended Pope St John Paul II’s funeral in person. However, Biden sent a delegation for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in 2023.