The Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, participated this Good Friday in the liturgy of the Passion of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the most solemn acts of Catholic Holy Week.
The liturgical event took place without the presence of Pope Francis, who is still recovering after being hospitalized for a serious respiratory infection.
JD Vance attends Good Friday
Accompanied by his wife Usha Vance and their three children, Vice President J.D. Vance took a prominent place in the front row of the papal altar.
This visit is part of his official tour of Italy, which will last until Sunday.
During his stay, Vance has already held a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
He is also scheduled to meet with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State and a key figure in the Holy See’s diplomacy.
The liturgy of the Passion: a rite without a mass
The Good Friday liturgy, which commemorates the Passion and death of Jesus Christ, is one of the most important moments in the Christian calendar.
Unlike the rest of the liturgical year, it is the only day on which no mass is celebrated.
Instead, the faithful participate in a celebration centered on the reading of the Gospel according to St. John, the adoration of the Cross and the distribution of the Eucharistic communion already consecrated the previous day.
On this occasion, the celebration was presided over by Italian Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, appointed by Pope Francis to replace him in the main rites of this Holy Week due to his health condition.
The homily was given by Friar Roberto Pasolini, official preacher of the Pontifical Household.
Pope Francis, absent but symbolically present
Pope Francis, 88, remains on a reduced schedule after spending 38 days in Rome’s Gemelli hospital due to respiratory complications.
Although he has resumed some activities on a limited basis – such as a symbolic visit to a Roman prison on Holy Thursday – he has delegated the central liturgical celebrations of Holy Week to different cardinals.
The pontiff is also not expected to attend the traditional Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome tonight.
This is the third consecutive occasion in which he has decided not to participate in order to avoid exposure to the cold at night, which could further complicate his health condition.
Political and diplomatic significance of the presence of JD Vance
Vice President Vance’s presence at the Vatican has not only a spiritual component, but also a diplomatic one.
His participation in the liturgy represents a gesture of respect for the Catholic Church, which has a strong influence among Hispanic and Catholic voters in the United States.
The planned meeting with Cardinal Parolin could address relevant topics such as religious freedom, the migration crisis, international conflicts (including Ukraine and the Middle East) and the shared – or divergent – positions between the Vatican and the current U.S. administration, led by President Donald Trump in his second term.
What about the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ blessing on Easter Sunday?
For now, it has not been confirmed whether Pope Francis will be able to appear on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica this Sunday to impart the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, addressed “to the city and to the world.”
The decision will depend on the pontiff’s physical condition in the next 48 hours.
For more news, visit QuéOnnda.com.
