A photo of JD Vance from his visit to Vatican City has sparked outrage after viewers spotted a huge breach of protocol.
The seemingly innocuous snap showed the Catholic Vice President holding his son inside the Sistine Chapel over Easter weekend.
However, photography and the use of electronic photography is strictly prohibited inside the holy site, according to the Vatican Museum’s website.
The image soon sparked a backlash, with many online branding it disrespectful.
‘For anyone who still says JD is a “good guy,” um…wut? Taking this pic is basically like giving God the finger,’ one person wrote on X.
‘It’s prohibited to preserve the amazing art and sanctity of the space. (I’m not Catholic, and even I know this. You’d think the #VP would, too.’
‘I guess JD Vance thought the Sistine Chapel’s strict no-photography rule was just a humble suggestion for Easter weekend, huh?’ another added.
‘Taking pictures in Sistine Chapel is strictly prohibited,’ a third person fumed.
A photo of JD Vance from his visit to the Vatican City has sparked outrage after viewers spotted a huge breach of protocol
Vance was in Rome for a meeting with the late Pope Francis over the Easter weekend
‘JD Vance behaves like a hobo it’s highly disrespectful. US administration act like 4 yrs old boys in a playground believing that they deserve all toys.’
The photograph was taken by official White House photographer Emily Higgins.
There is also precedent for other prominent figures being pictured inside the 552-year-old chapel, including former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Vance was in Italy for a meeting with the late Pope Francis.
They had an awkward exchange at the Vatican on Easter Sunday after the 88-year-old Pontiff slammed the Trump administration’s treatment of illegal migrants.
It came just one day after Vance, an adult Catholic convert, appeared to have been snubbed by the Pope and was initially forced to meet with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Peter Gallagher.
The vice president and the Holy Father did later meet for a ‘brief’ exchange which lasted lasted a few minutes.
The Pope offered the Catholic vice president three big chocolate Easter eggs for Vance’s three young children, who did not attend, as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries.
Photography and the use of electronic photography is strictly prohibited inside the holy site, according to the Vatican Museum’s website.
Vance and the Pontiff’s stances over migration and the Trump administration´s plans to deport migrants en masse clashed sharply. Francis made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy.
‘I know you have not been feeling great but it’s good to see you in better health,’ Vance told the Pope. ‘Thank you for seeing me.’
The Holy Father passed away the next day from a cerebral stroke, prompting worldwide mourning.
Francis died some 90 minutes after he was awoken by his alarm clock on Monday.
The Pontiff, who died today aged 88 at the Saint Martha residence in the Vatican, ‘passed away peacefully’, according to his doctors.
He reportedly woke up when his alarm went off at 6am, fell ill at 7am and died from a stroke at 7.35am, according to Corriere della Serra.
