Donald Trump, along with Pope Francis during a Vatican meeting, May 24, 2017. Photo: Evan Vucci / AP / Profimedia
US President Donald Trump sent a message of condolence after Pope Francis's death on Monday, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, which has criticized the Trump administration policies, especially on the theme of immigration.
“Rest in peace, Pope Francis! God bless him and all those who loved him!” Trump wrote, according to the BBC.
And the official X -House X account has sent a condolence message. In the post were included two photos with Pope Francis, one along with Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, and the other with the current JD Vance Vice President. The message that accompanied the images was: “Rest in peace, Pope Francis.”
Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. ✝️ pic.twitter.com/8cgwkannth
– The White House (@whitehouse) April 21, 2025
Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday, after a reign over a decade, ending a often turbulent reign, marked by divisions and tensions, while trying to review the institution.
Just a few hours before death, the Pope received JD Vance, the Vice -President of the United States, in the audience. The meeting was noted by the Vatican observers, in the context of tense relationships between Francis and the Trump administration, especially on the theme of immigration, external aid discounts and ideological positions promoted in the American public space.
The Pope repeatedly criticized the harsh policies against migrants and challenged, in a letter recently addressed to American bishops, the theological justifications to support mass deportations. In the message, Francis defended a Christian vision inspired by the parable of the “good Samaritan”, in contrast to the hierarchical interpretations proposed by some American officials.
The day before the pope's death, the US Embassy next to the Holy See transmitted on the X platform that “the Trump administration works to keep the US sovereignty by limiting illegal immigration” – a message criticized by the National Catholic Reporter. During the same period, the auxiliary bishop of Washington, Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, condemned the “shock and fear” campaign against migrants and urged the believers to take position.
