Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass at the Vatican on May 18th. The event is a significant gathering of political figures, highlighting the intersection of politics and religious events. Both Vance and Rubio, who are Catholic, will be joined by their spouses at the Mass in St. Peter's Square. Vance congratulated the new pope and stated he will continue to pray for him despite any disagreements. Pope Leo XIV's previous social media posts criticized Trump and Vance regarding immigration policies.
18 days ago
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both Catholics, are set to attend Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass on Saturday, May 18, at 10 a.m. Rome time 1 2. The Mass will be held in St. Peter's Square 1 2. Their respective spouses, Usha Vance and Jeanette Rubio, will also be part of the U.S. delegation 4.
Pope Leo XIV marks a historic moment as the first U.S.-born pope 1 4. Following his election, past posts on X (formerly Twitter) resurfaced, revealing criticisms of the Trump administration's deportation and migration policies 1 2. These posts have since been deleted 1 2.
Vance addressed Pope Leo XIV's past criticisms, stating he tries not to "play the politicization of the pope game" 1. He added that he anticipates both agreement and disagreement with the Pope's statements, but will continue to pray for him and the Church 1 4. Rubio echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that he views the papacy as a spiritual, not a political, office 1. He also defended his and the Trump administration's immigration policies 1.
President Donald Trump, who attended Pope Francis’ funeral in April, called the election of the first American pope "a great honor for our country" 1 4. Trump expressed interest in discussing immigration with Pope Leo XIV 4. With Trump potentially out of the running in 2028, both Vance and Rubio are seen as potential contenders for the GOP nomination 4.
The Church defines relations between political and spiritual authority.
This information suggests that Pope Leo XIV's Inaugural Mass is a significant event attracting political figures like JD Vance and Marco Rubio . Their attendance indicates the importance of the Catholic Church and the Holy See in the eyes of these public figures and possibly their constituents . The presence of international representatives at such events is a longstanding tradition, reflecting the relationships between the Church and various nations . Such events also provide opportunities to witness the universality of the Church and its connection to people from diverse backgrounds .