US Vice President JD Vance met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin at the Vatican on Saturday during a diplomatic visit that drew attention for the absence of Pope Francis.
Photo: Reuters
According to the Vatican’s official statement, the discussion involved an “exchange of opinions” on international challenges, with a focus on war-affected regions, political unrest, humanitarian concerns, and particularly migration and refugees.
The meeting was framed as a call for “serene collaboration” between the Holy See and the White House, amid ongoing tensions over US immigration policy. Pope Francis did not attend the formal meeting due to ongoing recovery from a recent hospitalisation, but is reported to have briefly greeted Vance at his residence. No details of their private exchange were disclosed.
A separate statement from Vance’s office, reported by Bloomberg, did not mention migration. Instead, it highlighted discussions on persecuted Christian communities and former President Donald Trump’s vision for global stability.
The Vatican meeting follows months of public disagreement between Francis and Vance. In February, the pope indirectly addressed the vice president’s reference to the theological concept of ordo amoris to justify immigration enforcement. “Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups,” the pontiff wrote.
Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, previously described himself as a “baby Catholic,” acknowledging gaps in his understanding of doctrine.
Vance attended Good Friday Mass at the Vatican with his wife, Usha, and their childrenduring his Easter weekend visit to Rome, which also included talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Photo: Reuters
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