Before his death, Pope Francis met with US Vice President J.D. Vance

Before his death on April 21, Pope Francis met with US Vice President J.D. Vance at the Vatican on Easter, April 20. The Pope's brief private meeting with Vance took place shortly after 11:30 a.m. in the Saint Martha House, Vatican News reports.

The Holy See press service said that the meeting lasted a few minutes and was an opportunity to exchange Easter greetings. It is noted that this was the first meeting between the US Vice President and the Pontiff since 2020. At the same time, Vance converted to Catholicism only in 2019.

Vance spoke with Pope Francis, who was sitting in a wheelchair. The Pontiff presented the US Vice President with a Vatican tie, rosary beads and Easter eggs for each of Vance's children, the publication writes.

"I know you're feeling unwell, but it's good to see you better. Thank you for meeting me," Vance told the Catholic leader, who was discharged from the hospital last month after battling pneumonia.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, Pope Francis I died in the Vatican on Monday, April 21.

On Easter, the 88-year-old Pope Francis made his first trip to St. Peter's Square in a wheelchair after suffering from double pneumonia and greeted tens of thousands of Catholics after Easter Mass at the Vatican.