Pope Francis met with JD Vanceo for Easter in the Vatican

Pope Francis, a critic of US President Donald Trump, met privately on Sunday morning with US Vice President JD Vance, Vatican reported in a statement.

Vance, a Catholic who came into conflict with the Pope for the immigration policy of Trump’s administration, met with Francis in his residence in the Vatican to mutually congratulate Easter, Vatican reported.

« Pope Francis held a brief private meeting, for a few minutes, to exchange good wishes to Easter, » the statement said.

Vance, who visits Italy with his family this weekend, met with senior Vatican officials for official talks on Saturday.

The Pope, who is recovering from mutual pneumonia, did not participate in these discussions.

Pope and Vatican officials have criticized several policies of Trump administration, including its plans to deport millions of migrants from the United States and reduce foreign assistance and social welfare programs.

Francis called the restraint of immigration « shame. »

Vance, who became a Catholic in 2019, referred to a medieval Catholic teaching to justify the administration policy.

The Pope denied the theological concept that Vance used as justification in an unusual open letter to the US Catholic bishops about Trump’s administration in February, and called Trump’s plan a « great crisis » for the US.