Vice President Vance will lead a U.S. delegation to Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass in Vatican City on Sunday, his office announced Thursday. Why it matters: Leo is the first American pope, who took over the papacy at a time of deep political divide in his home country.

The new pope will preside over an inauguration Mass on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, according to the Vatican.

The Trump White House had perhaps a surprising reaction to past criticism of the president by newly elected Pope Leo XIV. Before becoming pontiff, the former Robert Prevost, a native of Illinois, had reposted items critical of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on social media.