Trump and King Charles hail ‘special relationship’ in Windsor Castle banquet
Britain’s King Charles and U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated the enduring “special relationship” between their countries during a state ban...
U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited the Vatican on Saturday for talks with senior Catholic Church officials, amid ongoing criticism of the Trump administration’s policies.
The meeting marks the first in-person discussions between Vatican officials and members of the Trump administration in the second term.
Vance, a Catholic who has previously clashed with Pope Francis over the administration's immigration policies, arrived shortly before 10 a.m. (0800 GMT) for meetings with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, and other officials. While Pope Francis, who is recovering from double pneumonia and has limited his public appearances, was not expected to participate, the discussions are seen as significant given the ongoing tensions between the U.S. administration and the Catholic Church.
The Vatican has been a vocal critic of several Trump policies, particularly his immigration crackdown, plans to deport millions of migrants, and cuts to foreign aid and domestic welfare programs. Pope Francis has referred to Trump’s immigration measures as a "disgrace," and earlier this year, in a letter to U.S. Catholic bishops, he condemned the administration’s approach, stating that "what is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly."
Vance, who became Catholic in 2019, has used medieval-era Catholic teaching to justify the administration’s strict immigration policies. This theological defense has been directly challenged by the Vatican, including Pope Francis’ open letter to U.S. bishops in February, criticizing the Trump administration’s stance.
The visit comes at a sensitive time in U.S.-Vatican relations, with the church’s charity arm highlighting the devastating effects of Trump’s funding cuts to U.S. foreign aid programs, especially in the developing world. The U.S. Catholic bishops' conference has also announced it will end long-standing partnerships with the federal government, including services for migrants and refugees, due to the administration’s policies.
Chieko Noguchi, a spokesperson for the U.S. bishops, expressed hope that the meeting would lead to positive and engaging dialogue. "We pray that the meeting yields positive and engaging dialogue," Noguchi said, emphasizing the challenges faced by the Church in the U.S.
Vance, who visited the Vatican earlier in the week for a religious ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica, is in Italy for the Easter weekend. The outcome of his meeting with Vatican officials will be closely watched as the Trump administration continues to face criticism from the Catholic Church on key policy issues.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit next month in South Korea.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have formalised a mutual defence agreement, reinforcing a decades-long security partnership, Pakistani state television reported on Wednesday.
Britain’s King Charles and U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated the enduring “special relationship” between their countries during a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.
Five police officers have been shot in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, with three reported to be in grave condition and another in critical care.
Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa said ongoing negotiations with Israel over a security pact could produce results “in the coming days.”
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment