Pope Francis, the beloved and often controversial leader of the Catholic Church, died peacefully on Easter Monday at the age of 88 following a prolonged battle with respiratory illness. The Vatican confirmed that the pontiff, whose health had visibly declined over the past year, spent 38 days hospitalized during his final bout and had narrowly survived two near-death episodes during treatment. Despite stern warnings from doctors to rest and remain isolated, Francis continued to fulfill public and pastoral duties up until his death.
But amid global mourning and tributes from world leaders, a wave of grotesque speculation erupted on social media—specifically on X (formerly Twitter)—targeting an unlikely figure: U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.
I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025
Vance, a convert to Catholicism and former atheist, had spent the Easter weekend with his family in Rome. On Easter Sunday, he briefly met with Pope Francis at the Vatican, a moment he captured and shared online in what appeared to be a deeply personal and reverent post. When news broke just hours later that the Pope had passed away, Vance expressed heartfelt condolences, recalling a homily Francis gave early in the COVID-19 pandemic and calling it “really quite beautiful.”
That should have been the end of it.
Instead, within minutes, critics online launched into baseless and bizarre accusations, suggesting that Vance’s meeting somehow precipitated the pontiff’s death. Some leaned into irony or black humor. Others posted in a tone of mock-seriousness. A few went so far as to revive medieval imagery, jokingly calling for a return to witch trials. None offered anything remotely resembling evidence. What they did offer was a stark look at the social media era’s capacity for unhinged groupthink, where the tragic death of a religious leader is quickly overshadowed by meme-driven attempts at viral scapegoating.
BREAKING: Man, I would NOT want to be Jayvee Vance just now pic.twitter.com/qsWt97aaXd
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) April 21, 2025
Pope Francis had been critically ill for some time. The New York Times reported that his doctors had deemed his hospital recovery nothing short of miraculous and warned that a single misstep in his convalescence could prove fatal. And yet, in the final days of his life, he insisted on greeting crowds in St. Peter’s Square, visiting prisoners, and delivering blessings—actions that likely exhausted his already fragile condition. That JD Vance happened to see him during this time is coincidental, not causational.
Among the most high-profile voices in the backlash was Keith Olbermann, who snidely suggested Vance’s involvement with a tweet dripping with innuendo. Others piled on with sarcastic declarations like “JD Vance is the Antichrist confirmed” or “Every crime show tells me the last person to see someone alive is usually the prime suspect.”
Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced.
His last official visitor was US Vice President JD Vance.
Will remind of Liz Truss visiting Queen Elizabeth II shortly before the monarch's death. pic.twitter.com/0PS1ueCrcv
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) April 21, 2025
The comparison to Liz Truss meeting Queen Elizabeth II shortly before her death also gained traction—though again, the correlation is entirely superficial.