Vice President JD Vance, who transitioned from atheism to Catholicism, recently made headlines during his second visit to the Vatican in less than a month. The first visit involved a meeting with Pope Francis on Easter, shortly before the pope’s death, while the second entailed leading a U.S. delegation at the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope. Both pontiffs subtly critiqued President Trump and Vance’s “America first” ideology, prompting Vance to diplomatically avoid direct confrontation.
During the Mass, Vance was seated prominently alongside delegations from Italy and Peru. Pope Leo XIV’s homily highlighted the wounds caused by hatred and economic exploitation, resonating with broader criticisms of current socio-political landscapes. Vance and his wife briefly met the pope afterward, expressing American pride in his papacy during a trilateral meeting in Rome.
Vance, the second Catholic U.S. vice president after Joe Biden, emphasizes his conversion journey, having been baptized by Father Henry Stephan in 2019. His remarks surrounding Pope Francis’ prior criticisms, particularly regarding immigration policies, indicate an effort to maintain peace within the Church and respect papal authority, echoing sentiments he had expressed in a 2020 essay.
Vance’s interfaith marriage to Usha, a Hindu, adds complexity to his religious narrative, as they opt to raise their children in the Catholic faith while allowing them the freedom to decide on baptism. Despite his prior combative online persona, Vance disavows engaging in the politicization of the papacy, admitting the learning curve he faces as a relatively new Catholic and acknowledging his limitations in understanding the faith.
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