WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vice President JD Vance, the last foreign dignitary to meet Pope Francis before his death on Monday, joined the many world leaders paying tribute to the late Pope.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism six years ago, shared his condolences on social media, writing, “My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.”

Just the day before, on Easter Sunday, the Pope held a brief, unscheduled audience with Vance in his Vatican City residence. During the meeting, Vance told the Pope he prayed for him every day and was glad to see him in better health after undergoing recent health struggles.

The meeting occurred amid ongoing tensions between the Vatican and the White House over humanitarian policies, particularly immigration. Pope Francis had been an outspoken critic of harsh border policies and cuts to international aid implemented during the Trump administration. The pontiff had also seemed to rebuke Vance directly for claiming that the Catholic doctrine of “ordo amoris,” or hierarchy of love, justified mass deportations.

“[Y]ou love your family, and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country, and then after that you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world,” Vance had said in a January interview with FOX News.

Pope Francis wrote to U.S. bishops in a letter in February that “an authentic rule of law is verified precisely in the dignified treatment that all people deserve, especially the poorest and most marginalized,” which he said “does not impede the development of a policy that regulates orderly and legal migration.”

Still, Vance’s trip to Italy reflected his deepening engagement with global conservative leaders. He also met with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who heads the far-right Brothers of Italy Party and is ideologically aligned with President Donald Trump over curbing immigration. At a meeting last week in Washington, Trump praised Meloni for her tough stance.

Meloni praised the U.S.-Italy relationship during her meeting with Vance.

“Italy and the United States are committed to announce their strong cooperation. We think Italy can be a reliable and serious partner in Europe and the Mediterranean area," Meloni said. "We are proud to have this special relation with the U.S. and with this administration.”

President Trump has ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Pope Francis.