Jack Schlossberg may be a Kennedy by blood — but the internet says he’s no John F. Kennedy.
The 31-year-old grandson of America’s 35th president is under fire after suggesting, without evidence or context, that Vice President JD Vance was somehow responsible for Pope Francis’ death.
His exact words? “Okay JD killed the pope.”
On Monday morning, as the world was still reeling from the news of Pope Francis’ death at age 88, Schlossberg logged on to X (formerly Twitter) and unleashed a comment that quickly caught fire online:
“Okay JD killed the pope.”
But the post, which appeared to be meant as a joke (we think?), didn’t land the way Schlossberg may have hoped. Within hours, it had racked up over 470,000 views, drawing swift backlash and a flood of furious replies.
“Shameful,” “insensitive,” and “just not funny”
Critics didn’t hold back:
One user snapped: “Your words are shameful.”
Another replied: “Are you kidding with this? Just not funny – total disrespect.”
A third was blunter: “No, Johnny. Maybe it’s time to back off.”
Some even reminded Schlossberg that, given his family’s legacy and connection to Catholicism, he should know better.
Jack Schlossberg, also known as John “Jack” Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg, is the youngest child of Caroline Kennedy, and the only grandson of former President John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Jacqueline Kennedy.
Known for sharing his grandfather’s charm and good looks, Schlossberg is a social media influencer who uses Instagram to share his views on politics, silly selfies, and hilarious clips of him speaking with impressive accents.
He had also been a Senate intern in 2011, studied at Yale University, where he completed his undergraduate degree, and attended Harvard Law and Business School, where he earned both his M.B.A. and J.D. (Juris Doctor).
Vance met the Pope the day before his death
Schlossberg’s tweet didn’t come out of nowhere — as many already know, Vice President JD Vance had just met with the Pope one day before his passing.
Vance was in Rome for Easter and had a brief, private meeting with Pope Francis after Sunday Mass. Though not on his official schedule, the encounter was reportedly a meaningful moment for the Catholic-convert politician.
In a short clip, Vance was seen expressing concern for the Pope’s health and thanking him for the meeting. “I pray for you every day,” he told the Pontiff.
The Pope, visibly frail, gifted Easter eggs for Vance’s children before the meeting ended. The entire visit lasted just 17 minutes.
Vance’s tribute after the Pope’s death
When news of the Pope’s passing broke early Monday morning, Vance issued a heartfelt statement on X:
“I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.”
He also reflected on their recent meeting, saying, “He was obviously very ill,” and shared one of Pope Francis’ most moving prayers from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pope cause of death
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, speaking for the Vatican, confirmed the Pope died of a massive stroke, not the respiratory issues that had plagued him in recent months.
Doctors said the Pope woke up around 6 a.m., but by 7 a.m., he had become unwell. Within 30 minutes, he had slipped into a coma. He never woke up again.
He died peacefully, officials said — passing away not in the hospital but at home, surrounded by the silence of Vatican grounds.
“He returned to the house of the Father at 7:35 a.m.,” Farrell said in a solemn statement, calling Francis “a true disciple” who dedicated his life to “the poorest and most marginalized.”
Pope Francis ditched the limo and took the bus to work, refusing to live in the luxurious papal palace because he felt it was too grand. He also boldly confronted the Italian mafia, warning them of hell and officially excommunicating them from the Catholic Church. Rest in peace, Papa Francis!
