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.
Azerbaijan could be among several new countries to join the Abraham Accords in the coming months, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said, adding that Armenia, Syria, and Lebanon may also normalize ties with Israel under the agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Doha on Wednesday, continuing his Gulf tour after lifting all U.S. sanctions on Syria and holding a first meeting in Riyadh with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al‑Sharaa.
Sony reports an 18% rise in profit for the fiscal year ending March 31, driven by strong demand in music and gaming sectors, despite a slowdown in its financial segment.
Saudi Arabia fully supports the ongoing nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said, expressing hope for a constructive outcome that could ease regional tensions.
Ukraine's gas reserves have reached their lowest levels in over a decade, with storage facilities less than 20% full as of May 11.
Azerbaijan could be among several new countries to join the Abraham Accords in the coming months, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said, adding that Armenia, Syria, and Lebanon may also normalize ties with Israel under the agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Doha on Wednesday, continuing his Gulf tour after lifting all U.S. sanctions on Syria and holding a first meeting in Riyadh with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al‑Sharaa.
Three Ukrainians have been arrested over a plot to mail exploding parcels from Germany to Ukraine, prosecutors said, putting Europe's cross-border postal network in the spotlight as a target of suspected Russian sabotage.
Sony reports an 18% rise in profit for the fiscal year ending March 31, driven by strong demand in music and gaming sectors, despite a slowdown in its financial segment.
France will expel Algerian diplomats in response to Algiers' decision to expel French officials, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Wednesday, signaling a further deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
U.S. President Donald Trump kicked off his Gulf tour with a high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, securing a major strategic economic agreement and pledging deep investment ties between the two nations.
EU approves 17th Russia sanctions, blacklisting almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships, 30 evasion firms and 75 defence figures, banning missile chemicals and arming Brussels to strike Kremlin hybrid and operations.
A Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force has reportedly been shot down for the first time in combat, according to sources cited by CNN, marking a significant and symbolic development in the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan.
Pope Leo XIV has pledged to prioritise global peace, rejecting war as inevitable and offering the Vatican’s role in mediating international conflicts.
U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Doha on Wednesday, continuing his Gulf tour after lifting all U.S. sanctions on Syria and holding a first meeting in Riyadh with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al‑Sharaa.
Three Ukrainians have been arrested over a plot to mail exploding parcels from Germany to Ukraine, prosecutors said, putting Europe's cross-border postal network in the spotlight as a target of suspected Russian sabotage.
Sony reports an 18% rise in profit for the fiscal year ending March 31, driven by strong demand in music and gaming sectors, despite a slowdown in its financial segment.
France will expel Algerian diplomats in response to Algiers' decision to expel French officials, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Wednesday, signaling a further deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Azerbaijan could be among several new countries to join the Abraham Accords in the coming months, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said, adding that Armenia, Syria, and Lebanon may also normalize ties with Israel under the agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Doha on Wednesday, continuing his Gulf tour after lifting all U.S. sanctions on Syria and holding a first meeting in Riyadh with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al‑Sharaa.
Three Ukrainians have been arrested over a plot to mail exploding parcels from Germany to Ukraine, prosecutors said, putting Europe's cross-border postal network in the spotlight as a target of suspected Russian sabotage.
Sony reports an 18% rise in profit for the fiscal year ending March 31, driven by strong demand in music and gaming sectors, despite a slowdown in its financial segment.
France will expel Algerian diplomats in response to Algiers' decision to expel French officials, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Wednesday, signaling a further deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two nations.
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