JD Vance Attending Good Friday Mass in Vatican Before Strategic India Visit

Vice President JD Vance is set to spend part of Holy Week in Vatican City, attending Good Friday Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica before traveling to India for high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Vance’s trip, which includes meetings with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, reflects not just a moment of personal faith, but a carefully orchestrated show of diplomatic strength from the Trump administration.

“Vice President Vance looks forward to meeting with Prime Minister Meloni and Church officials while in Italy and is grateful for the opportunity to visit some of Rome’s amazing cultural and religious sites with his family during Holy Week,” said Taylor Van Kirk, Vance’s press secretary.

The Vice President’s Catholic faith has become an increasingly visible part of his public life. A convert to Catholicism, Vance has spoken openly about his spiritual journey, even acknowledging at February’s National Catholic Prayer Breakfast that he’s still learning, jokingly calling himself a “Baby Catholic.”

Despite a brush with criticism from Pope Francis earlier this year sparked by the Trump administration’s tough immigration policies Vance hasn’t wavered. He’s stood firm in his belief that protecting American sovereignty and upholding Christian values aren’t mutually exclusive.

“Sometimes, the bishops get mad at me,” Vance admitted with a grin. “But it comes from a place of deep belief.”

While Pope Francis will not preside over Holy Week events due to health concerns, Good Friday Mass will still go on under the leadership of Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti.

Back in Washington, the White House is holding Easter celebrations anchored in prayer and patriotism. President Trump released a Presidential Message on Holy Week, reaffirming his commitment to religious liberty and the role of Christianity in American life.

“We will never waver in safeguarding the right to religious liberty, upholding the dignity of life, and protecting God in our public square,” Trump declared.

The contrast with the previous administration is sharp. Just last year, Joe Biden declared Easter Sunday as “Transgender Day of Visibility”, a tone-deaf move that drew fierce backlash from Christian communities across the country.

Following his time in Rome, Vance will visit New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra in India, engaging in talks with Modi and touring cultural landmarks. The trip underscores the Trump administration’s strategic efforts to bolster alliances with major democracies while standing firm on issues like trade, security, and religious freedom.

This is not just a sightseeing tour. It’s a blend of conviction and statesmanship a powerful image of an American leader grounded in faith and focused on restoring U.S. leadership abroad.

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