Vice President JD Vance recently shared his thoughts on a meeting at the Vatican in April 2025, shortly before the death of Pope Francis. Vance expressed a preference for the straightforward criticism he received from Pope Francis over what he described as superficial comments from other Vatican officials.

Vance stated that his interaction with Vatican diplomats in Rome last year felt “unsettling” due to their reliance on clichés and superficial remarks. He appreciated the Pope’s candid approach, which stood out against the less substantial dialogue he experienced with other officials.

The vice president’s reflections offer a glimpse into the nature of diplomatic interactions at one of the world’s most influential religious institutions, highlighting the importance of direct communication and substantive discourse, even at high levels of diplomacy.