Vice Presidential Pool Reports of April 19, 2025

VP pool report #1 4/19: Heading toward Vatican

Good morning/bongiorno from Rome, everyone.

Vice President Vance's motorcade left at 9:39 a.m., but pool could not see him.

We're now heading toward Vatican City, where the vice president is scheduled to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Gallagher at 10 a.m.

Pool has been advised we are not only prohibited by the Vatican from joining the vice president for any part of the meeting (due to strict media policies, we were told), but from waiting in Vatican City at all during the meeting. Therefore, we've been told we will hold just outside Vatican City while the vice president meets with Parolin and Gallagher.

I will update you all when I'm given further guidance to share about the VP's day in Rome.

VP pool report #2 4/19: Arrival at Vatican

We saw VP Vance inside his vehicle, and another member of the pool spotted one of his sons in the SUV as well. Lots of phones being held up from onlookers as the motorcade passed through the streets of Rome.

Pool lost sight of the motorcade as it continued into a Vatican City gate at 9:52 a.m. without us.

Pool is being held in a parking area facing Saint Peter's Square.

VP pool report #3 4/19: VP + family touring Sistene Chapel

At 11:22 am., a spokesperson for the vice president, shared that Vance's meeting with the cardinal and archbishop has concluded, and Vatican officials have brought the second family to see the Sistine Chapel.

The pool is still holding. While pool was originally told we could not wait inside Vatican City, we were ultimately moved into a section of Saint Peter's Square currently blocked off to the public. For those interested in the scene here (a more scenic than average pool hold location), we're waiting along the left colonnade, next to a lovely fountain that indicates it is affiliated with Pope Paul VI, as well as a sculpture depicting huddled migrants that was installed in Saint Peter's Square in 2019. Tourists are coming and going from the basilica as additional equipment is being set up outside, presumably for tomorrow's Easter mass.

VP pool report #4 4/19: Departing Vatican

Vice President Vance's vehicle emerged from a secure gated area of Vatican City at 12:01 p.m., soon after the noon bells rang. Pool vans joined the motorcade.

Motorcade is heading back to VP's lodging site here in Rome. Pool has not been advised on the VP's schedule for the rest of the afternoon.

VP pool report #5 4/19: Lunch lid

The vice president's motorcade arrived at his lodging site at approximately 12:15 p.m. A lunch lid has been called until 3:45 p.m.

Your pooler has inquired about what the VP will be doing this afternoon, and I will report back if I find out more.

VP pool report #6 4/19: Vance family having lunch

A spokesperson for the vice president said the Vances are going to be having lunch, but did not share where that will take place.

VP pool report #7 4/19: Lid

Pool was given a lid for the night at 6:18 p.m. We have not been told what Vice President Vance is doing this evening, or about his whereabouts afternoon.

When pool returned from the lunch lid three hours ago, we were swept again by Secret Service. No outing with the vice president materialized, however.

A note: During the lunch lid, a spokesperson for Vance said a Sky News report claiming the vice president briefly met with the pope this morning was false. Passing that along for anyone who saw the story.

Here is the write-up of Vance's Vatican meeting this morning from the Vatican's news agency.