JD Vance Asked About Being One of the Last People to See Pope Francis Alive: ‘How Does it Feel?’

Photo by (EV) Vatican media/Abaca/Sipa USA(Sipa via AP Images)

Vice President JD Vance was asked by a reporter on Wednesday to react to being one of the last people to see Pope Francis alive.

“How does it feel knowing you were maybe one of the last officials to meet with him before he died?” a reporter asked Vance during his trip to India.

“Yeah, you know, I’ve thought a lot about that. I mean, it’s pretty crazy, actually,” Vance replied, adding:

And obviously, when I saw him, I didn’t know that he had less than 24 hours still on this earth. I think it was a great blessing. But, you know, he saw a lot of people. I think he affected a lot of lives. And I try to just remember that I was lucky that I got to shake his hand and tell him that I pray for him every day because I did and I do.

Over the weekend, Vance met with the Vatican’s number 2 ranking official, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, in the Apostolic Palace. He later had a short meeting with Pope Francis, who was in a wheelchair following a lengthy illness. Pope Francis passed away the following day.

“I know you’ve not been feeling well, but it’s good to see you in better health,” Vance said in a clip from their meeting.

The Vatican later released a statement about Vance’s meeting with the officials.

“There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners,” the statement said. “Finally, hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.”

Watch the clip above via C-SPAN.