U.S. Vice President JD Vance took part in a Good Friday service at St. Peter’s Basilica, arriving with his wife and three young children just days after the death of Pope Francis, who passed away earlier this week at age 88.
The visit comes at a sensitive moment. Vance, a Catholic convert and vocal defender of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, had previously clashed with the late pope over the treatment of migrants. Francis had called the administration’s deportation policy a “disgrace” and issued a public letter rebuking the theological justifications cited by Vance.
Despite their differences, Vance is expected to meet with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, on Saturday. The meeting will take place amid ongoing tensions between the Vatican and U.S. Catholic institutions over cuts to migrant aid and refugee services.
The U.S. bishops’ conference recently ended a 50-year federal partnership on migrant support, citing severe funding reductions. Vatican officials are reportedly seeking ways to address the fallout and maintain humanitarian programs.
Vance may also attend Pope Francis’s funeral in the coming days, though the Vatican has not yet confirmed the full list of international attendees.
As the Church mourns its first Latin American pontiff, the visit by America’s vice president underlines both the shared heritage and the unresolved disagreements between Washington and the Holy See.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Tehran has not made any decision to begin new nuclear talks with the United States, dismissing recent claims by President Donald Trump about a planned meeting.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said on Friday the group aims to become the world’s top platform provider for artificial super intelligence within the next decade, signaling a bold new direction for the Japanese tech giant.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
An unusual blast of cold air from Antarctica has swept across Uruguay, causing the deaths of at least seven homeless people and forcing authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Türkiye has thrown its full support behind NATO’s new pledge to raise collective defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with Ankara confirming it is already surpassing the previous 2% benchmark and accelerating efforts to bolster national and regional security.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Tehran has not made any decision to begin new nuclear talks with the United States, dismissing recent claims by President Donald Trump about a planned meeting.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said on Friday the group aims to become the world’s top platform provider for artificial super intelligence within the next decade, signaling a bold new direction for the Japanese tech giant.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
An unusual blast of cold air from Antarctica has swept across Uruguay, causing the deaths of at least seven homeless people and forcing authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Türkiye has thrown its full support behind NATO’s new pledge to raise collective defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with Ankara confirming it is already surpassing the previous 2% benchmark and accelerating efforts to bolster national and regional security.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has advised American citizens to shelter in place amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, as part of a broader global security alert issued by Washington.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed using closer cooperation with Pacific rim countries as a foundation to redesign the World Trade Organization (WTO), citing rising trade tensions and global fragmentation.
China and Ecuador mark a key step in strengthening bilateral ties by agreeing to expand and deepen cooperation in trade, investment and economic development.
The man behind one of Japan’s most disturbing serial murder cases—dubbed the ‘Twitter killer’—has been executed, breaking a nearly three-year pause in the country’s use of capital punishment.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Tehran has not made any decision to begin new nuclear talks with the United States, dismissing recent claims by President Donald Trump about a planned meeting.
An unusual blast of cold air from Antarctica has swept across Uruguay, causing the deaths of at least seven homeless people and forcing authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Tehran has not made any decision to begin new nuclear talks with the United States, dismissing recent claims by President Donald Trump about a planned meeting.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said on Friday the group aims to become the world’s top platform provider for artificial super intelligence within the next decade, signaling a bold new direction for the Japanese tech giant.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
An unusual blast of cold air from Antarctica has swept across Uruguay, causing the deaths of at least seven homeless people and forcing authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Türkiye has thrown its full support behind NATO’s new pledge to raise collective defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with Ankara confirming it is already surpassing the previous 2% benchmark and accelerating efforts to bolster national and regional security.
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