Russia rejects Vatican as venue for Ukraine peace talks
Russia is dismissing the Vatican as a credible venue for peace talks with Ukraine, citing religious and geopolitical concerns, according to senior Russian sources.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with senior Vatican officials on Saturday for talks that the Vatican described as "cordial," following ongoing criticisms of the Trump administration’s policies, particularly regarding immigration.
Vance, a Catholic who has had differences with Pope Francis over U.S. immigration policies, met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, and his chief deputy.
According to a Vatican statement, the two sides had "an exchange of opinions on the international situation," with discussions focused on countries affected by war, political tensions, and humanitarian crises, especially those concerning migrants, refugees, and prisoners. The statement noted that the talks were conducted in a constructive atmosphere, with hope expressed for continued collaboration between the U.S. Church and the government.
Pope Francis, who is limiting public appearances while recovering from double pneumonia, did not participate in the meeting. Vance is visiting Italy for the Easter weekend, which provided an opportunity for this in-person dialogue with Vatican officials.
The meeting comes at a time of heightened tension between the Vatican and the Trump administration, particularly over the U.S. immigration crackdown and cuts to foreign aid programs. Pope Francis has publicly criticized the Trump administration’s approach, calling the immigration policies a "disgrace." Vance, who became Catholic in 2019, has previously justified the administration's immigration stance using medieval Catholic teachings. However, the pope rebutted Vance's theological arguments in an open letter to U.S. Catholic bishops in February, describing the Trump administration's approach as a "major crisis" for the country.
The Vatican has also voiced concerns over the Trump administration's cuts to U.S. foreign aid programs, calling the reductions "catastrophic" for the developing world. The U.S. Catholic bishops’ conference announced this month that, due to these cuts, it would end a decades-long partnership with the federal government to provide services to migrant and refugee populations.
Chieko Noguchi, a spokesperson for the U.S. bishops, expressed hope that the meeting between Vance and Parolin would lead to productive dialogue. The Vatican, for its part, expressed optimism that the discussions could pave the way for “serene collaboration” between the U.S. government and the Church.
As relations between the Vatican and the Trump administration continue to be a point of contention, this meeting marks a significant moment for diplomatic and church-state relations.
AnewZ takes to the streets of Yerevan and Baku to ask a simple yet deeply complex question: How do you see peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan? In the first part of our special report, we hear the hopes, doubts, and scars still shaping people’s perspectives on both sides.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Kyiv faced a large-scale Russian drone and missile assault overnight, with explosions and gunfire echoing throughout the city, forcing residents to shelter in subway stations.
In a landmark moment for artists’ rights, Taylor Swift has officially bought back the master recordings of her first six albums, ending a long-running dispute over who controls her music.
A 61-year-old man in Alaska rescued after being trapped facedown under a massive 700-pound boulder in a freezing glacier-fed creek for three hours.
Two foreign nationals were indicted Friday in California and Wisconsin for allegedly trying to smuggle sensitive U.S. military technology to China and target an American dissident critical of Beijing.
The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered an accident investigation into SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight, which ended with the spacecraft spinning out of control and breaking apart over the Indian Ocean.
Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blažek resigned Friday after opposition parties called for his removal over a controversy involving bitcoins donated to the Ministry of Justice.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment