Overview

• Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, just hours after a private meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
• A viral satirical conspiracy theory on social media humorously claims Vance is the Antichrist and responsible for the Pope’s death, with memes and jokes gaining widespread traction on platforms like X, TikTok, and Reddit.
• X user @ycsm1n's post labeling Vance the Antichrist received over 6 million views, while public figures like Jack Schlossberg amplified the narrative with tongue-in-cheek commentary.
• The Vatican has entered a nine-day mourning period, with preparations underway for Pope Francis’s funeral in St. Peter’s Square and the election of his successor in a conclave.
• The Pope and Vice President had longstanding ideological differences, particularly on immigration, with Francis advocating for marginalized communities and Vance supporting stricter policies.