Snl Mocks Pope’s Death And Implies Vp Jd Vance Played A Role In Controversial Trump Sketch

"Saturday Night Live" is nary alien to poking nosy astatine religion, but its latest sketch is drafting disapproval for suggesting Vice President JD Vance whitethorn person played a domiciled successful nan decease of Pope Francis.

The section opened pinch a sentimental philharmonic number dedicated to moms up of Mother’s Day. The opus was abruptly interrupted by a parody of President Donald Trump, played by formed personnel James Austin Johnson. The opening speech of nan show has consistently been focused connected nan president for weeks. 

"It’s maine again, invading each aspects of your life," Johnson’s Trump said arsenic he took nan stage. He quickly shifted nan reside by commenting connected nan Catholic Church’s caller predetermination of a caller pope.

"We person an American Pope, Chicago-style, nary ketchup," he joked astir Pope Leo XIV, who was calved successful Chicago, Illinois. "But we for illustration Pope Leo. We dream he does what we want. That’s what you want nan Pope to do."

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The sketch took a darker move erstwhile nan parody Trump implied that Vice President Vance whitethorn person had thing to do pinch Pope Francis’ death.

L-R: Bowen nan arsenic JD Vance and James Austin Johnson arsenic Donald Trump during nan "Campaign" Cold Open connected Saturday, September 28, 2024. (Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images)

"Otherwise, I’ll person to nonstop JD backmost to do his thing. Remember past clip JD met nan pope?" he said, referencing nan truth that Vance met Pope Francis conscionable 1 time earlier nan pontiff’s death.

Vance was, successful fact, nan past known world leader to meet pinch Pope Francis, visiting him connected Easter Sunday past month. The pope passed distant nan pursuing day.

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The sketch went connected to blasted Vance for a drawstring of world crises, pinch Johnson’s Trump saying, "He’s sewage nan Meidas touch, but for bad things. He meets nan pope? Dead. Goes to India? War! Joins my campaign? Trump wins!"

Following news of Pope Francis’ death, Vance expressed his condolences connected X, formerly known arsenic Twitter.

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"I was happy to spot him yesterday, though he was evidently very ill," Vance wrote, successful part. "But I’ll ever retrieve him for nan beneath homily he gave successful nan very early days of COVID. It was really rather beautiful. May God remainder his soul."

Still, nan timing of nan gathering spurred conspiracy theories and jokes online. John F. Kennedy’s grandson moreover posted to his complete a 100 1000 of X followers: "Okay JD killed nan pope."

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Vance has not responded to nan online speculation directly, but successful an question and reply pinch Fox News Digital, he reflected connected nan gathering arsenic a profound moment.

"I was 1 of, if not nan very past world leader to really meet pinch nan pope," Vance said. "I took 1 of my comparatively inferior staffers, who is simply a devout Catholic, and I looked backmost astatine him erstwhile he was astir to meet nan pope, and he was crying--it benignant of drives location really important this, not conscionable this man, but this institution is to complete a cardinal group worldwide."

After nan meeting, Vance flew to India for a negotiated visit. He learned of Pope Francis’ passing aft he landed.

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The SNL sketch didn’t extremity astatine nan Vance-pope connection. It went connected to mock Catholicism itself, likening nan belief to celebrated American institutions.

"We emotion Catholics," Johnson’s Trump said. "It’s 1 of nan stronger Christian organizations, on pinch Salvation Army, and I want to opportunity Chick-fil-A."

Throughout nan season, nan long-running sketch drama show has many times questioned President Trump’s faith, and for their Easter-themed episode, compared Trump to Jesus. 

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Their parody type of Trump saying: "It’s me, your favourite president, Donald Jesus Trump, comparing myself to nan Son of God erstwhile again."