Did Vance Kill Francis?

It is no secret United States Vice President JD Vance was one of the last people to see Pope Francis alive before his sudden passing on April 21, 2025. Prior to their private meeting, his Holiness was believed to be on the mend. He even appeared publicly to greet his followers mere hours before on Easter Sunday. So why then did he pass away so soon after meeting with JD Vance?

Who is to say what happened during their one-on-one audience when the cameras were away? Did Vance engage in some form of foul play? He certainly had the motivation to take such action after the Trump administration was criticized for its immigration policies. For years, the US Republican Party led by President Trump has viewed the Vatican as a thorn in its side. This is because the Vatican represents a higher power not beholden to the whims of other world leaders. It serves as a constant reminder that Christian Nationalism in the United States does not actually conform to traditional Christian teachings.

Instead of actually caring about the less fortunate and being inclusive to all people, the US Republican Party has become the party of hate and selfishness. Instead of welcoming immigrants with open arms, they have turned to racism and violence with the goal of keeping the “others” out at any cost. Instead of accepting members of the LGBTQ community as fellow people, they have embarked on a culture war to dehumanize them and strip them of their basic rights. Instead of helping the poor and needy, they advocate for cutting social programs and giving tax breaks to billionaires. In short, the Republican Party led by Trump and Vance only pretends to adhere to Christian values as a means of justifying their horrid behavior. 

Pope Francis on the other hand, spent his entire life advocating for the poor and less fortunate. His central message to Vance during his visit was to be more compassionate. This of course flies directly in the face of a political party focused on capitalist gains through the extortion of the working class. Silencing a major critic such as Pope Francis would be highly desirable to a leader wanting to pose as a good Christian. So what really happened between Vance and Francis behind closed doors? What are they covering up?