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.
A powerful winter storm has brought large parts of the U.S. Northeast to a standstill, dumping more than a foot of snow across several states and seve...
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said on Monday it had received “credible reports” that at least 13 civilians were killed and seven other...
Four members of Syria’s Internal Security Forces were killed on Monday in an attack by the ISIS (Daesh) terrorist group targeting a checkpoint west ...
The former British ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson has been arrested by police in London on suspicion of misconduct in public office....
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said nuclear talks with United States have “yielded encouraging signals” stressing Iran’s readiness “f...
A mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV was illuminated on Sunday at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, continuing a centuries-old Vatican tradition marking the election of a new pope.
Ukraine "deeply appreciates" the humanitarian support of Pope Leo XIV. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a meeting between the two at the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo, on Tuesday, 9 December.
More than 60 Indigenous artifacts held in the Vatican for 100 years, including a rare Inuit kayak, arrived in Montreal, where First Nation, Métis and Inuvialuit leaders welcomed them home with ceremony, song and emotion.
Pope Leo condemned violence in the name of religion on Friday at a landmark event with Christian leaders from across the Middle East, urging them to overcome centuries of heated divisions.
A seven-month-old Japanese macaque has drawn international attention after forming an unusual bond with a stuffed orangutan toy after being rejected by its mother.
Pakistan said it carried out cross-border strikes on militant targets inside Afghanistan after blaming a series of recent suicide bombings, including attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, on fighters it said were operating from Afghan territory.
Italy said a fond farewell to the Winter Olympics on Sunday with an open-air ceremony in the ancient Verona Arena that celebrated art and sporting achievement at a Games lauded as a model for how to stage such events.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved new sanctions targeting Russian maritime operators, defence-linked companies and individuals connected to Moscow’s military and energy sectors, according to official decrees issued on Saturday.
The United States and Iran will hold a new round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Thursday as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to reach a potential agreement, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced on Sunday.
Chinese travellers made an estimated 362.58 million cross-regional passenger trips on Monday, the final day of the Spring Festival holiday, according to official data.
Thousands of people gathered across Europe and beyond over the weekend in solidarity with Ukraine, as the war with Russia entered its fifth year.
A powerful winter storm has brought large parts of the U.S. Northeast to a standstill, dumping more than a foot of snow across several states and severely disrupting transport and daily life.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said on Monday it had received “credible reports” that at least 13 civilians were killed and seven others injured in overnight Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan.
The former British ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson has been arrested by police in London on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment