When news broke that Pope Francis had passed away just hours after meeting U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on April 20, 2025, the internet erupted with dark humor, conspiracy jokes, and memes linking Vance to the Pope’s death. What began as a bizarre coincidence quickly spiraled into a viral theory that Vance might be the “Antichrist” or somehow responsible for the tragedy. Here’s a breakdown of how the meme spread, why it resonates, and what it says about online culture.
What Happened?
Pope Francis, aged 88, died shortly after exchanging Easter greetings with Vice President Vance during a meeting at the Vatican. While the Vatican confirmed the Pope’s death was due to natural causes, the timing sparked immediate jokes. Social media users noted that Vance, a controversial political figure, was among the last people to meet the religious leader, leading to satirical claims like, “First you killed the economy and now the Pope”.
How the Memes Started
Within hours of the announcement, platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and TikTok flooded with memes.
One user joked, “I don’t think JD Vance killed the Pope, I think meeting JD Vance probably drained the Pope’s will to live”, while others photoshopped Vance into hellish scenarios or labeled him the “Antichrist”.
The humor often compared Vance to former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, who faced similar jokes after Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022. For example,
Reddit users quipped, “It’s like claiming Liz Truss killed the Queen—except somehow darker”.
Why the Jokes Caught Fire
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Timing and Irony: The proximity of Vance’s visit to the Pope’s death created an irresistible narrative. As one X user wrote, “This is all the proof I need that JD is in fact the antichrist”.
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Vance’s Polarizing Image: Vance, a divisive figure in U.S. politics, has faced criticism for his policy stances and past controversies. Earlier in 2025, he was humorously “corrected” by the Pope on theological matters, adding fuel to the meme.
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Internet Culture’s Love for Absurdity: Online communities often exaggerate real events into surreal conspiracies for laughs. The “Antichrist” angle, while extreme, fits this pattern of blending humor with hyperbole.
Why These Memes Matter
While the “Vance killed the Pope” theory is clearly a joke, it highlights how social media amplifies coincidences into cultural moments. These memes serve as:
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Social Commentary: They reflect public frustration with political leaders, using humor to critique power dynamics.
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Community Building: Shared jokes create belonging among users, even in dark contexts. For instance, Reddit threads turned the meme into collaborative storytelling, with users imagining Vance “absorbing optimism” like a “corn dog singularity”.
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A Mirror to Misinformation: Though playful, the memes blur the line between satire and conspiracy, reminding us how easily humor can distort reality.
Is There Any Truth to the Claims?
No. The Vatican confirmed the Pope’s death was due to age-related decline, and there is no evidence linking Vance to the event. The memes are purely satirical, akin to joking that “Liz Truss killed the Queen”. However, the rapid spread of such content underscores the need for media literacy, especially when humor overlaps with sensitive topics.
The Bigger Picture
This incident isn’t just about Vance or the Pope—it’s about how the internet processes tragedy through humor. Memes act as a coping mechanism, allowing users to engage with heavy topics without despair. Yet, they also risk trivializing real events. As one Reddit user warned, “Eventually, we could all be drawn into his unclean backside… restarting this wretched timeline”.
While the jokes may fade, their impact lingers, reminding us that in the digital age, even death can become a meme—for better or worse.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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