Like many international leaders, Donald Trump praised Pope Francis’s memory, who died on Monday, April 21 in the morning. The American president was however satisfied with a laconic message on his social social network. “Rest in peace, Pope Francis!” May God bless him, as well as all those who love him ”he wrote.
His vice-president, JD Vance, was the last political figure to have met the Holy Father. A private meeting that only lasted a few minutes this Sunday, April 20. It was held before the last public appearance of the Sovereign Pontiff at the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica, to wish joyful Easter to the faithful. “I was very happy to see him yesterday, even if he was obviously very sick. I will always remember him for the homily he said at the very beginning of the covid. It was really very beautiful ”rented the former senator on X this Monday.
Relations between the Trump administration and Pope Francis were not good, however. At the end of January, the sovereign pontiff was climbed to the niche against the massive expulsion plan of illegal migrants promised by the republican president. “If it is true, it will be a calamity, because it would make paid poor unhappy people who have nothing”, he had deplored. In return, the Holy Father had attracted the wrath of the White House. “Let him focus on the Catholic Church and let us take care of borders”had launched Donald Trump in mid-February.
Pope Francis was closer to his predecessor, Joe Biden. The latter paid tribute to him on Monday. “Pope Francis was one of the most important leaders of our time. He was different from those who preceded him (…) He was the Pope of the People, a light of faith, hope and love ”wrote the 46th American president on X. mid-January, a few days before the inauguration of Donald Trump, Joe Biden had awarded the highest civil distinction in the United States to the Sovereign Pontiff.
