Pope Francis received this Sunday at his Vatican residence to the United States vice president, JD Vance, on a horseback riding between work and vacations. As reported by the press office of the Holy See in a statement, the Pontiff met with the American in the Santa Marta house, the residence of priests in which he lives, for a brief greeting and to exchange a congratulation for resurrection Sunday, one of the most important celebrations for Christians. The meeting “lasted just a few minutes, the time to exchange congratulations on Easter,” reads the note. Although diplomacy prevails, both maintain a patent disagreement over.
After the greeting, the Pope, who is still convalescent after suffering bilateral pneumonia, for which, headed in a wheelchair to the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro, from where he taught the blessing ‘Urbi et Orbi’, to the city and the world, as is traditional in this holiday. From there, without the oxygen cannulas that used to carry on other occasions, he pronounced some brief words: “Dear brothers and sisters, happy Easter,” he said with a remarkable effort to emit the voice. And he pointed out that the Easter message he had prepared was going to read. Later, he toured the square aboard the ‘Papamóvil’, to greet the faithful, who applauded and cheered him.
Francisco, although by medical prescription he must save two months, is trying to resume his agenda at this time, although naturally limitedly by his health status still delicate and has begun to grant audiences such as the kings of England ,,, a few days ago, or to the staff of the Gemelli Hospital of Rome, in which he was admitted. It continues to perform motor and respiratory physiotherapy to improve mobility and recover speech, which is usually lost when a serious ailment of this type is suffered, doctors have explained.
The meeting with Vance, which he received at 11.30 in the morning, half an hour before leaving on the balcony of the Basilica, was brief. While both greeted themselves, in the Plaza de San Pedro the Mass of the Sunday of Resurrection was being held, chaired by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, who read the homily that Francisco had prepared.
Vance had also met this Saturday with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Italian Pietro Parolin, with whom he “exchanged views on the international situation, especially about countries marked by war” and “difficult humanitarian situations, with special attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners,” the Vatican reported in a statement.
Ultra -conservative Catholic wing
The American vice president, who became Catholicism in 2019, has spent Holy Week in Rome and has gone to some religious ceremonies in the Vatican. Vance is part of the United States ultraconservative Catholic wing, which does not hide his criticism of Pope Francis. One of the issues that divides them most is the treatment of migrants and the Trump administration plans to deport mass immigrants. The attention and reception of migrants is one of the cornerstones of Francisco’s pontificate. In fact, in February, a few days before being hospitalized, he criticized mass deportations and in a letter sent to US bishops warned that these practices “hurt the dignity of many men and women, whole families, and places them in a state of special vulnerability and helplessness.”
In the same letter, although without any direct allusion, Francisco seemed to respond to Vance, that in his speeches he had suggested that the Catholic doctrine approved this type of policies and recalled that the social doctrine of the Church “exhibits with great force” the fact that Jesus Christ “also chose to live the drama of immigration.”
Vance has accepted Francisco’s criticism, but has said that he will continue to defend his views and has recognized that he is considered a “baby Catholic” who still “does not know everything” about faith.
The Vatican, although it maintains its traditional diplomatic neutrality, has also lamented.
In his Pascual message, read by Monsignor Diego Ravelli, who is the master of pontifical liturgical ceremonies, he has lamented “how much contempt you sometimes have towards the weakest, marginalized and migrants.” As is traditional, the Pope usually dedicates his speech on Sunday of Resurrection to reflect on wars and crises open throughout the planet, in an especially critical tone.
On this occasion, he has claimed “peace over all Holy Land and over the whole world.” And he has shown his closeness “to the suffering of Christians in Palestine and in Israel, as well as all the Israeli people and all the Palestinian people.” He has also denounced that it is “worrying the growing climate of anti -Semitism that is spreading throughout the world.” And he has directed a thought “to the population and, in particular, to, where the terrible conflict continues to take death and destruction, and causing a dramatic and unworthy humanitarian crisis.” He has also launched a call to the belligerent parts: “That the fire ceases, that hostages are released and help people, who are hungry and that aspires to a future of peace.” In addition, he has asked for “a real disarmament” and has prayed for Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Armenia and Azerbaijan, among others. And by Ukraine, on which he has encouraged “all the actors involved to continue efforts aimed at achieving a fair and lasting peace.”
Francisco has not participated in the Rites of Holy Week for his convalescence, although on Holy Thursday he visited a prison in the center of Rome, where he met with inmates. The 88 -year -old pontiff, known for his sensitivity to the prison world, unlike previous years, did not perform the traditional rite of foot washing, which commemorates Christ’s gesture towards his apostles, but wanted to show his closeness to prisoners. “Every time I enter these places, I wonder: why do they and not me?” He told the journalists, from the car, on his way back to the Vatican. “I live the Easter as I can,” he added later.
This Sunday reappeared for the blessing ‘Urbi et Orbi’ addressed to the city of Rome and the entire world, which can only give the Pope on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday.
