Vice President Vance Kneels Where Christ Was Crucified

Jerusalem — U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, attended a private Mass celebrated by Franciscan monks at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Thursday, October 23, 2025, during a three-day diplomatic trip to Israel.

Vance, the nation's second Catholic vice president, met with a group of bishops and went to confession prior to Mass, according to the White House Pool Report.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was constructed in the early fourth century during the reign of Constantine the Great, the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. It is jointly operated by the Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, and four Oriental Orthodox churches. According to tradition, the church is built on the site of Jesus Christ's crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. It is a premier pilgrimage destination for Christians who visit the Holy Land.

The Vances toured the church and attended a private Mass before Vance attended briefings at the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv ahead of his departure for the U.S. They first stopped by Golgotha, where Jesus Christ was crucified, the Tomb of Jesus and the Stone of Anointing, where Christ's body was prepared for burial before entering the church, one of the holiest sites in the Christian faith.

During his visit, Vance knelt in silent prayer in front of The Stone of Anointing. Many believe this to be the stone on which Jesus Christ's body was anointed with oils and balms before his burial. He also prayed before the Calvary Altar, which is believed to be the location where Christ was crucified.

At the Stone of Anointing, which is at the entrance of the Holy Sepulchre church, a bishop handed the vice president a red pillow to lean on. He knelt down and made the sign of the cross with his right hand while bowing his head.

According to the pool report, Vance and his wife both lit candles in the church. Vance also lit two candles with fire from Christ's tomb to bring back to the United States.

"We are sending these lights to the White House," an Armenian Orthodox bishop said, according to the pool report. "May God bless America, the United States, and Armenia and our friendship."

Vance, the second Catholic vice president in U.S. history, hinted he would be visiting the holy site during a press conference a few hours after arriving in Israel.

At the Tuesday press conference, Vance said he would visit the church that Christians believe is the place where Jesus Christ was crucified and urged people of faith to pray for peace. "I know that Christians have many titles for Jesus Christ, and one of them is the Prince of Peace. I'd ask all people of faith, in particular my fellow Christians, to pray that the Prince of Peace can continue to work a miracle in this region of the world," he said.

"I think that we have made incredible strides over the past week," he added. "We're going to have to make a lot more. But I think with your prayers, with God's providence and with a very good team behind me, I think we're going to get it done."

Vance's trip to Israel comes as the White House is working with Israel and Hamas to maintain a ceasefire, which halted a two-year-long war in Gaza. Earlier during his trip, he asked Christians to pray for peace in the region.

Following his visit, Vance posted on social media: "What an amazing blessing to have visited the site of Christ's death and resurrection. I am immensely grateful to the Greek, Armenian, and Catholic priests who care for this most sacred of places. May the Prince of Peace have mercy on us, and bless our efforts for peace."

He added in a subsequent post: "I am also grateful to the Franciscan monks who celebrated a private mass for my family and many of the Americans working for peace. They are a great credit to the Christian faith, and they were kind enough to take the time to minister to us at a very special moment."

THE CRUSADER'S OPINION

The Vice President of the United States knelt where Christ died. He prayed at the Stone of Anointing where Jesus' body was prepared for burial. He stood at Calvary where the Son of God was crucified for humanity's sins. And he brought fire from Christ's tomb back to the White House. This is what Christian leadership looks like.

Vance didn't just visit Jerusalem for photo ops and handshakes. He went to confession. Attended Mass. Spent ninety minutes in prayer at Christianity's holiest site. While secular politicians treat faith as campaign decoration, America's Catholic Vice President demonstrated that belief drives policy, not the other way around. He invoked the Prince of Peace while negotiating Middle East ceasefires because he actually believes Christ's sovereignty matters in geopolitics.

Compare this to decades of American leaders who treated Israel-Palestine as purely political theater. Vance connected peacemaking to prayer, asked Christians worldwide to intercede, and publicly acknowledged that without God's providence, human diplomacy fails. This isn't civil religion platitudes. This is a leader who understands that Christ's death and resurrection at that exact location changed history forever, and any lasting peace in that region requires divine intervention.

Western civilization was built by leaders who understood Christianity as foundational truth, not cultural preference. When America's second-highest official kneels at Golgotha and lights candles from Christ's tomb, he's declaring what secularists hate hearing: Christian faith belongs in public life, shapes foreign policy, and matters more than political correctness. The Vice President prayed at the site of humanity's redemption and asked for Christ's blessing on peace efforts. That's the kind of leadership Christendom desperately needs.

TAKE ACTION

Pray for Vice President Vance and the Trump administration's Middle East peace efforts. Pray for wisdom, divine guidance, and protection for Christians in the region.

Contact Your Representatives:

• Thank them when elected officials publicly demonstrate Christian faith and leadership
• Urge continued U.S. support for religious freedom protections in Middle East peace agreements
• Demand that any peace plans include ironclad protections for Christian communities

Support Christians in the Holy Land:

• International Christian Concern - Advocacy for persecuted Christians worldwide
• In Defense of Christians - Advocacy specifically for Middle Eastern Christians
• Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem - Direct support for Holy Land Christians
• Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land - Supporting Christian presence in birthplace of Christianity

Stay Informed:

• Follow developments in Middle East peace negotiations
• Monitor how peace agreements protect or endanger Christian minorities
• Share stories of Christian leadership in government
• Educate your church about Christians living in the Holy Land

Christian leadership in government matters. When our leaders publicly honor Christ, support them, pray for them, and hold them accountable to continue leading with faith.