Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the Vatican to attend Sunday’s inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV, after Vance was the last American official to meet with Pope Francis shortly before his death last month.

On Sunday morning, May 18, a Mass for the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV will take place in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Although the Mass is no longer described as an "enthronement,

Vice President JD Vance will lead a U.S. delegation to attend the inaugural Mass on Sunday of Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S. pontiff, who was critical of President Donald Trump and Vance before taking leadership of the global Roman Catholic Church.