JD Vance calls meeting with Pope Francis before his death 'a great blessing'

Vice President JD Vance says he did not realize how sick Pope Francis was when he met with the pontiff at the Vatican a day before he died.

"I've thought a lot about that. I mean, it's pretty crazy, actually," Vance said. "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."

Vance was one of the last officials to meet with Francis. The vice president, who is Catholic, held formal talks with the Vatican's secretary of state over the weekend before an informal face-to-face with Francis the following day. Francis' death on April 21 came less than 24 hours after he met with Vance.