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.
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