JD Vance had a “brief” meeting with the Pope amid tensions between the pontiff and the White House on migration policy and welfare cuts. The US Vice President, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, is understood to have been keen to meet his Holiness whilst in Rome with his family.

The leader of the Catholic church had been reticent to grant an official meeting, but a “brief” audience was held on Sunday morning in Casa Santa Marta where the 88-year-old lives. The meeting is understood to have “lasted a few minutes” according to the Vatican, allowing the two to exchange Easter greetings. The Pope has previously been critical of the US administration, condemning their policy on migration and pledge of mass deportations as “a disgrace”.

Mr Vance has at times attempted to clumsily use Catholic teachings to justify the White House’s approach to migration but has been slapped down by the Pope in open letters to Catholic Bishops in the US.

He was also outspoken on President Donald Trump, hours before his inauguration, telling Italian TV: “This won’t do! This is not the way to solve things. That’s not how things are resolved.”

The brief encounter was in contrast to an official audience given to outgoing US President Joe Biden in December.

The apparent snub was discussed on social media, with user Jay Mallow saying: "No photo op. No public blessing. Just a cold shoulder—and a firm reminder from the Vatican about who the Catholic Church stands with, I love this."

Seonaid McGill added: "He did not grant him a private audience and he did send his second in command to give him a lecture. That's as snubby as the Pope gets".

The Pope is currently recovering from pneumonia after being hospitalised for several weeks earlier this year, in an illness that brought him close to death.

As he continues to focus on his health, he delegated the traditional Easter mass, although he did make a brief appearance to bless the thousands of people who had gathered in St Peter’s Square.

Standing on loggia balcony above the entrance to St Peter’s Basilica, the Pontiff waved to the adoring crowds who cheered in response, as he said from his wheelchair: “Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!”

In his address to the crowds which was read by an aide, the Pope accused some countries of “stirring up contempt” towards migrants and the most vulnerable in society.

He said: “How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalised, and migrants,” without mentioning the United States directly.

Senior Cardinals have also accused the US administration of “humiliating” migrants in recent days.

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, responded to a question about how the world should react to Trumpism, in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Stampa.

He said: “I think there should be two approaches. On the one hand, we need to be uncompromising in our judgement, especially when we see policies that humiliate people – such as migration policies – or undermine faith in institutions.

“At the same time, we must not isolate ourselves or give up on constructive dialogue. Jesus himself often found himself in bad company, with people whose ideas and values he did not share.”