Pope Leo XIV Expresses Relief After Surviving Inaugural Mass Attended by JD Vance

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, expressed profound gratitude for waking up alive this morning following his inaugural Mass, attended by U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

The event, held in St. Peter’s Square, drew thousands of faithful and numerous world leaders, but it was Vance’s presence that reportedly caused the new pope significant unease.

Sources close to the Vatican say Leo, still adjusting to his role, had privately voiced concerns about the Vice President’s attendance, given Vance’s meeting with Pope Francis just hours before the late pontiff’s mysterious death.

The inaugural Mass marked the formal start of Leo’s papacy, with the 69-year-old Augustinian missionary calling for unity and peace. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, led the U.S. delegation alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Despite the solemnity of the occasion, whispers of apprehension circulated among Vatican staff, fueled by Vance’s recent history with papal encounters.

“I feel especially blessed to see the sunrise today,” Pope Leo reportedly told his brother over breakfast. The Vatican has not officially commented on the remark, though insiders say the Pope’s morning prayers included an unusually desperate plea for longevity.

Vance’s visit to Rome has drawn scrutiny since his brief meeting with Pope Francis, who passed away shortly after. Authorities have cleared the Vice President of any involvement, citing natural causes for Francis’s death.

Still, the timing has sparked speculation, with some Vatican observers jokingly referring to Vance as “the pontiff’s shadow.” The Vice President, for his part, appeared unfazed, shaking hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and others before the Mass.

“It’s an honor to witness this historic moment for American Catholics,” Vance said, smiling as he waved to the crowd. No official response from the White House has addressed the Pope’s reported anxiety.

The Mass itself proceeded without incident, with Leo delivering a homily focused on healing divisions within the Church.

Prior to his election, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost had criticized Vance and the Trump administration’s immigration policies on social media, posts that were later deleted.

These past tensions added a layer of intrigue to Vance’s attendance, with some speculating whether the Vice President’s presence was a gesture of reconciliation or simply protocol.

“JD Vance is a faithful Catholic, and his attendance shows respect for the Holy Father,” said a U.S. embassy spokesperson, downplaying any suggestion of discord.

Vatican security, however, reportedly doubled its presence around the pope during the event.

As Leo begins his papacy, the Church faces challenges ranging from declining attendance to debates over doctrine. Pope Leo seems content to focus on his mission, with sources saying he plans to increase his daily rosary count “just in case.”

The faithful, meanwhile, continue to celebrate the first U.S. Pope, though some are quietly relieved he made it through the weekend.

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