Just hours after the Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88, Schlossberg posted on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Okay JD killed the pope.” The remark appeared to be aimed at U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who had just met with the Pope in a brief private audience the day before the pontiff’s death.
The comment, which some interpreted as a joke or political jab, failed to amuse the public. It quickly garnered over 470,000 views and ignited a digital firestorm, with critics across the political spectrum expressing outrage and confusion over the unfounded suggestion.
“Your words are shameful,” one user responded bluntly. “This isn’t satire. It’s disrespect.” Another replied, “Are you kidding with this? Just not funny — total disrespect.” More piled on, with some invoking Schlossberg’s own family history and deep Catholic roots to emphasize their disappointment: “Given your family’s legacy, you should know better.”
For many, the post landed like a slap in the face just as the world was grappling with the loss of a religious figure revered for his humility, service, and commitment to peace.
Jack Schlossberg — full name John Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg — is the 31-year-old son of Caroline Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, and the only grandson of JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy. With his high-profile lineage, Ivy League education, and public visibility, he’s been viewed by some as the Kennedy family’s next potential political torchbearer.
In recent years, Schlossberg has garnered attention for his presence on social media, where he mixes political commentary with humorous content and glimpses into his personal life. He graduated from Yale, later earning both his MBA and JD from Harvard. Despite his comedic tone online, many expect more from someone tied so closely to one of America’s most iconic political families — especially when addressing matters as serious as the death of a sitting Pope.
The timing of Schlossberg’s comment was particularly pointed. Just the day before Pope Francis’s passing, Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, visited the Vatican to meet with the ailing pontiff after Easter Mass. Though not formally announced on his itinerary, the meeting was captured in a short video that showed Vance gently shaking the Pope’s hand and thanking him for his leadership.
“I pray for you every day,” Vance told the visibly frail pontiff. In return, the Pope reportedly offered Easter eggs as a gift for Vance’s children. The encounter, which lasted about 17 minutes, was described by aides as warm, brief, and personal.
When news broke early Monday morning that Pope Francis had died, Vance released a statement on X, expressing sorrow and reverence for the late spiritual leader. “My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” Vance wrote. He added that the Pope had clearly been very ill when they met and included one of Francis’ prayers from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in tribute.
And yet, Schlossberg did not walk the comment back — at least not immediately. At the time of this writing, the post remained live, sparking further speculation over whether he intended to stand by it or if it had simply spiraled beyond his control.
Adding to the furor is the clarification from the Vatican regarding Pope Francis’ actual cause of death. While the Pope had long struggled with respiratory issues and had been recently treated for pneumonia, doctors confirmed that he died from a sudden, massive cerebral stroke.
