US Vice President JD Vance has been slated online after snapping a picture in the Vatican just hours before Pope Francis died.
Vance, the right-hand man of Donald Trump, flew to visit the Pope before the head of the Catholic Church suddenly passed away from a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure.
The US vice president briefly met the late Pope Francis after the latter skipped an official meeting with him and sent his deputy before meeting on Easter Sunday, a day before his death.
The Catholic leader’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes across the globe.
Soon after, cardinals met for the first time since his death on 21 April and met in Rome 9am local time to commence the planning of the funeral, according to the BBC.
Pope Francis passed away 21 April after JD Vance’s visit (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
The late Bishop of Rome’s funeral has been revealed to begin with mass to take place at 10am local time on Saturday 26 April, which will be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals.
Italy is currently undergoing the nine days of mourning ahead of the church’s process before a successor is eventually chosen.
From there, we will be given a date of the funeral and burial.
However, the humble Pope Francis had said that he would not be laid to rest in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica, where most Popes are kept, but in Rome’s St. Mary Major Basilica.
He also detailed before his death that he would be buried in a simple wooden casket.
With so much happening in Italy, and grief within the Catholic community, online commenters have now spotted something else that has them riled up in light of his death.
They have shared that during Vance’s visit, he disrespected the Vatican when he was photographed with his son in the Sistine Chapel.
This is because there is a rule that no photographs are to be taken in the building.
When The Daily Wire’s White House correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan posted on X an image of Vance and his son in the Chapel, the comments exploded.
Vice President JD Vance and his son tour the Sistine Chapel.
Official White House photo/Emily Higgins. pic.twitter.com/OGQBv5k5CR
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) April 20, 2025
One person said: “You mean the place where it is forbidden to take photos? Rules simply don’t apply to these people.”
Another seethed: “No, photography is strictly prohibited inside the Sistine Chapel. This rule applies to all types of electronic equipment, including phones and cameras. Guards are authorized to delete any photographic or video material taken in violation of this rule.”
Someone else wrote: “Photography inside chapel is prohibited- unbelievably disrespectful and typical of this administration.
“I don’t care if they bullied their way into permission !”
The official website for the chapel clearly states: “In the Sistine Chapel it is forbidden to take photographs or films with any type of electronic equipment”.
However, the Vatican Media and shared on The Times’ YouTube channel Vance being shown around by Vatican officials, which would have been filmed with permission by the Chapel.
Perhaps specific people are able to capture moments in the site?
Tyla has contacted the White House for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images
