JD Vance’s Gift to Pope Leo XIV during

During a visit to the Vatican on May 19, 2025, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance surprised Pope Leo XIV with a custom Chicago Bears jersey featuring the name “Pope Leo” and the number “XIV.” The gift, referencing the Pope’s Chicago roots, sparked online debate, with critics calling it inappropriate and others defending the gesture. Vance also presented a letter from President Trump inviting the Pope to the U.S., while Pope Leo gave Vance a bronze sculpture and a picture book of the papal apartments. The jersey moment, captured on video, drew mixed reactions, highlighting tensions between diplomacy and cultural gestures.

Just weeks earlier, Vance stirred controversy for a photo taken with his son inside the Sistine Chapel—where photography is strictly forbidden. Despite backlash, the Vatican may allow exceptions for dignitaries, as seen in past visits. The April trip marked one of Pope Francis’ final public appearances before his death on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at age 88. The Pope died following a stroke after battling health issues for months. His passing was met with global mourning, and plans for public viewing and funeral rites at St. Peter’s Basilica were set in motion as tributes poured in from around the world.