In brief
Pope Leo XIV and JD Vance discuss relations between the US and the Vatican, amid ongoing migration controversies.
The Vatican recently announced that Pope Leo XIV had held cordial discussions with US Vice-President JD Vance following his inaugural mass. This landmark meeting, which took place behind closed doors, came just a day after Vance participated in the Pope's ceremony, marking a significant moment given that Leo became the first American pontiff earlier this month.While Vance is known to be a practicing Catholic, his prior comments have drawn scrutiny, including previous criticisms made by Leo regarding the Trump administration's migration policies. Despite these past tensions, the Vatican released a statement expressing mutual satisfaction with current US-Vatican relations during their 45-minute dialogue.Key topics of the meeting included religious freedom, church-state cooperation, and a focused discussion around pressing global issues. Both leaders emphasized the importance of humanitarian respect and negotiated peaceful resolutions in ongoing conflict zones.Additionally, Vance's spokesperson noted that the Vice President had also met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, who oversees the Vatican's international relations. As the meeting unfolded, Vance expressed his support for the new pontiff, stating the U.S. is proud of its Chicago-born leader.
