Against the backdrop of deep differences with the Trump administration over migration and foreign aid as well as concerns for Ukraine and for Gaza, the Vatican secretary of state welcomed U.S. Vice President JD Vance to the Vatican.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, attended the liturgy with his wife, Usha, a practicing Hindu, and his three children after meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni earlier in the day.

Pope Francis, 88, will visit Rome’s Regina Coeli prison “in a private way” on Holy Thursday afternoon if his health condition allows it.

The Vatican press office has said that it has no information to share about Vance’s trip, but if the vice president were to participate in one of the liturgies, it would let people know.

Asked whether the pope would meet with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert who will be in Rome for the Easter weekend, the director of the Holy See Press office said he did not have information on that.

Catholic faithful do not “buy” Masses, but when a priest accepts an offering and promises to celebrate a Mass for that person’s loved one or other special intention he must do so, the Vatican said.