“Saturday Night Live” stirred controversy yet again with a recent skit that critics say crossed the line—this time involving the death of Pope Francis and Vice President JD Vance.
The episode began with a heartfelt tribute to mothers ahead of Mother’s Day, but the mood quickly shifted when cast member James Austin Johnson stepped onstage as former President Donald Trump, continuing the show’s recurring satirical focus on the former president.
“Here I am again, showing up in every part of your life,” Johnson’s Trump quipped. He soon pivoted to discussing the Catholic Church’s new leader, Pope Leo XIV, who hails from Chicago. “An American pope, Chicago-style, no ketchup,” he joked, alluding to the new pontiff’s Midwestern roots. “We like Pope Leo. Hopefully, he does what we tell him. That’s what you want in a pope.”
The sketch took a more controversial turn when the Trump impersonation made an eerie comment hinting that VP JD Vance may have been involved in Pope Francis’ passing. “Otherwise, I’ll have to send JD back to do his thing. Remember what happened the last time he met the pope?” Johnson said, referencing Vance’s recent visit with the pope—just one day before the pontiff died.
In reality, Vance had met Pope Francis on Easter Sunday during an official visit to the Vatican. The pope passed away the following day, making Vance the last known world leader to meet with him.
The skit didn’t stop at that connection. Johnson’s Trump continued to attribute various global disasters to Vance’s appearances, saying, “He’s got the Meidas touch, but for disasters. Meets the pope? Dead. Visits India? War. Joins my campaign? Trump wins!”
Vance expressed his condolences online after the pope’s passing. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the homily he gave during the early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul.”
Despite Vance’s respectful tone, his meeting with Pope Francis has since become the subject of conspiracy-laced jokes across social media. Even John F. Kennedy’s grandson chimed in, posting to his large following: “Okay JD killed the pope.”
Vance hasn’t directly addressed the online rumors, but in an interview with Fox News Digital, he reflected on the visit as deeply meaningful. “I was one of, if not the very last world leader to actually meet with the pope,” he said. “One of my younger staffers who is a devout Catholic was so moved, he started crying. It reminded me just how significant this man and this institution are to so many around the world.”
After his Vatican stop, Vance traveled to India for another diplomatic engagement, only learning of the pope’s passing upon arrival.
The SNL sketch continued to lampoon Catholicism itself, comparing it to mainstream American brands. “We love Catholics,” Johnson’s Trump said. “It’s one of the strongest Christian groups, right up there with the Salvation Army—and I want to say Chick-fil-A.”
This isn’t the first time SNL has stirred the pot on religious or political topics. Earlier in the season, the show drew attention for comparing Trump to Jesus during an Easter-themed segment, raising eyebrows over its commentary on faith and the economy.
