Vice President JD Vance arrived at the Vatican carrying more than just goodwill and formalities. He brought a custom Chicago Bears jersey as a gift for the newly elected Pope Leo. The jersey, emblazoned with the name “Pope Leo” and the number XIV, offered a lighthearted nod to the Chicago-born pontiff and his papal title.
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Pope Leo XIV and Vice President JD Vance met at the Vatican on Monday, ahead of a wave of U.S.-backed diplomatic efforts aimed at pushing forward a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Vance, who converted to Catholicism, headed the American delegation attending the inaugural Mass for the first-ever American pope. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a fellow Catholic, was also present at the meeting.
The Vatican noted that JD Vance’s delegation was the first of several private audiences Pope Leo held Monday with visitors who had traveled to Rome for his inaugural Mass. These included other Christian leaders and a group of faithful from his former diocese in Chiclayo, Peru.
After playing a limited role during the early years of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Vatican has since offered to host peace talks and remains active in humanitarian efforts, such as facilitating prisoner exchanges and reuniting Ukrainian children taken by Russian forces.
JD Vance bears gifts for Pope Leo XIV
According to Vance’s office, the vice president also presented Pope Leo with two works by St. Augustine: The City of God and On Christian Doctrine. The gesture held personal significance, as Vance selected St. Augustine as his patron saint when he converted to Catholicism and was baptized in 2019. Notably, Pope Leo had formerly served as the global leader of the Augustinian order.
JD Vance wasn’t just bearing gifts of symbolic or spiritual value—he also carried a political message. He hand-delivered a personal letter from President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, extending an invitation for Pope Leo XIV to visit the United States.
Pope Leo’s ascent to the papacy earlier this month marked a historic milestone for the American Catholic community. President Trump promptly celebrated the occasion, calling it “an honor to witness” and personally congratulating Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost.
As for the sports connection, it goes beyond just the Bears. Earlier this month, the pope’s brother revealed that Leo is also a longtime White Sox supporter. Whether he’ll wear the jersey behind closed doors remains uncertain, but the gift clearly struck a meaningful chord.
