JD Vance is being slammed online after he broke one of the most notorious Vatican rules during his Easter weekend visit.
The vice president was trailed by White House photographer Emily Higgins as he toured the iconic sites that the 10 million or so people who visit Vatican City each year are sure to recognize.
But one of the photos sparked outcry. It showed Vance holding his young son as the two gazed up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
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The series of frescoes covering the interior of the papal chapel were painted by Michelangelo in early 16th century. They are among the most famous and important works of Renaissance art. The ceiling features perhaps the most iconic piece in the series: The Creation of Adam.
But as anyone who has toured the Sistine Chapel knows, there’s a rule that governs the experience: Visitors are “forbidden” from taking photographs in the chapel.
The building is the only place in the Vatican where photography is completely prohibited. Security guards are authorized to take visitors’ cameras and make them delete any photos if they are caught violating the rule, according to the Vatican’s site.
After the photo of Vance in the Sistine Chapel was posted to X by MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk, many users were quick to call the VP out for the flub.
“You do NOT take pictures in the sistine chapel,” wrote user @KindderBerge. “No respect.”
“To take photos in the Sistine Chapel is strictly forbidden! Every true Catholic knows this,” wrote @Adelsexpertin. “This pictures shows what’s wrong: Rules are only to be followed by others but not the American government - utterly despicable!”
User @MamaMoose_Be added: “There is a strict rule of not taking pictures within the chapel. But we all know that some people wipe their feet on rules and even the law.”
The rule against photos in the chapel was first instituted as part of a deal to secure funding to restore the chapel’s artworks in 1980. In exchange for $4.2 million to bankroll the project, the Vatican gave Japan’s Nippon TV exclusive photo and video rights to the restored art.
While those rights lapsed in the 1990s, the ban on pictures remains in place. Some hypothesize the measure is to protect the art from damaging flash photos or encourage reverence of the space.
As some X users pointed out in Vance’s defense, there is a track record of political figures being photographed in the chapel, including Michelle Obama, as well as Bill and Hillary Clinton.
A source close to the situation told the Daily Beast that the Vatican gave special permission for the photographer in question to take pictures inside the Sistine Chapel.
Vance, a Catholic convert, departed the Vatican Sunday after a three-day visit that saw him attend Easter mass and meet with the late Pope Francis. The pontiff died at 88 on Monday, a day after speaking with the vice president.
Vance offered a tribute to Francis on X shortly after his death.
“My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” he wrote. “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill.”
