Vance’s visit to the seat of Catholicism during the Church’s holiest days of the year comes under the shadow of his public tiff with an ailing Pope Francis and in the wake of

Holy Week is a time when the pope would be expected to be front and center of events. But as Francis continues to recover from double pneumonia, observers are on the lookout for surprise appearances.

Vance, visiting Italy with his family over the Easter weekend, joined a ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica for Good Friday, the day Christians mark Jesus' crucifixion. The vice president was seen entering the event with his wife Usha and their three young children.