A seemingly tender moment between Vice President JD Vance and his young son inside the Sistine Chapel has ignited controversy across social media. A photo posted by conservative commentator Charlie Kirk showed Vance and his son gazing up at Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling — a scene captured by White House photographer Emily Higgins. Kirk described it as “an epic shot” and praised the father-son moment spent during Easter weekend. However, the image quickly drew backlash, as photography inside the Sistine Chapel is strictly prohibited by Vatican rules.
Netizens were quick to call out the breach, criticizing Vance for apparently disregarding one of the Vatican’s most sacred traditions. While such photos are rare, it’s worth noting that exceptions have been made in the past — even former First Lady Michelle Obama was once photographed inside during a private tour. Yet, Vance’s Easter visit would soon take an even more historic turn, as it became tied to one of the final moments in the life of Pope Francis…