U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited the Vatican on Saturday for discussions with senior Catholic Church leaders, marking the first such talks during President Trump’s second term. The meeting comes after the Vatican has been openly critical of several policies enacted by the Trump administration.
Vance, a practicing Catholic, has clashed with Pope Francis over the administration’s hardline stance on immigration. During his visit, Vance met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, and his deputy. Following the meeting, the Vatican described the talks as “cordial,” focusing on global issues such as political unrest, humanitarian crises, and the plight of migrants, refugees, and prisoners.
In a statement, Vance highlighted the discussions on Catholicism in the U.S., the persecution of Christians worldwide, and President Trump’s efforts to restore global peace. Pope Francis, who is limiting public appearances due to recovery from pneumonia, did not attend the meeting.
The Vatican has been critical of several Trump administration policies, particularly the controversial immigration measures and cuts to foreign aid and domestic welfare. Pope Francis has previously condemned Trump’s immigration policies, calling them a “disgrace,” while Vance has defended the measures by referencing Catholic teachings from the medieval era.
Massimo Faggioli, a scholar at Villanova University, noted that the meeting took place at a pivotal moment for U.S.-Vatican relations, with the Vatican prioritizing engagement with the U.S. government. Earlier this year, the Pope publicly disagreed with Vance’s defense of the administration’s immigration policies, warning that actions based on force rather than human dignity would ultimately fail.
Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, had attended a religious ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica earlier in the week with his family. The Vatican’s global charitable arm has strongly criticized the Trump administration’s cuts to foreign aid, calling the reductions “catastrophic” for developing nations.
The U.S. Catholic bishops’ conference recently announced it would end its longstanding partnerships with the federal government on migrant and refugee services due to these cuts.
Chieko Noguchi, a spokesperson for the U.S. bishops, expressed hope that the meeting would foster positive dialogue. The Vatican also expressed its hope for “serene collaboration” between the U.S. Church and government following the discussions.
