The Vice President of the United States, the highest-ranking Catholic in the federal government, spoke about his faith and his conversion testimony at a monthly gathering of Catholic lawmakers and advisors held on Capitol Hill. Vance, who moved from atheism to the Catholic Church in 2019, addressed the role of faith in public life and service to others.
JD Vance attended “Catholic Connections” on May 21, an informal monthly meeting organized by Republican Congressman Tom Emmer, the House Majority Whip. The gathering, designed as an off-the-record discussion space for Catholics working on Capitol Hill, brought together lawmakers and staff from both chambers around the vice president.
According to attendees, Vance shared the details of his spiritual journey—from atheism to his reception into the Catholic Church—and reflected on how faith should translate into a life of service. Emmer himself highlighted the meeting on social media:
“It was an honor to have JD Vance, the highest-ranking Catholic in the United States government, at Catholic Connections this morning. Thank you, Mr. Vice President, for sharing your story of faith, family, and public service.”
Other Republican congressmen present praised his remarks. Representative Bob Latta of Ohio emphasized that Vance “shared his testimony, his faith, and the importance of living our values through service to others.” French Hill of Arkansas described it as “wonderful” to hear the vice president recount his “spiritual journey from atheism to conversion to the Roman Catholic faith.”
A convert at the pinnacle of power
Vance’s 2019 conversion—received into the Church by Father Henry Stephan of the Diocese of Columbus—has drawn public attention since his rise to national politics. His confirmation sponsor was Catholic author and commentator Rod Dreher. In various interviews, Vance has cited the influence of thinkers such as René Girard and G.K. Chesterton on his path to faith, as well as the stability he found in Catholic social teaching amid the “emptiness” of his secular youth.
With his appearance at Catholic Connections, Vance reinforces his profile as the most visible practicing Catholic in the Trump-Vance Administration, at a time when relations between the White House and the Vatican are strained over immigration policies and Pope Francis’s criticism of the border wall. The vice president’s participation in such forums highlights the consolidation of a network of Catholic lawmakers within the Republican wing of Congress, particularly among the party’s more conservative sectors.