Relations between the Vatican and the US have become strained following a series of controversial statements and meetings
The Pentagon and the White House have dismissed reports that senior officials from the US Department of Defence allegedly urged Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican to support the United States’ position on matters of military influence and control in the Western Hemisphere.
This information relates to a meeting that took place in January. According to the Free Press, US Deputy Secretary of Defence Elbridge Colby invited Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio in Washington, to a private meeting. The article describes the meeting as tense.
It is claimed that during this meeting, Colby spoke of US military capabilities and emphasised that the Catholic Church should support the American side. Independent journalist Christopher Gale confirmed that the meeting took place and noted that some Vatican representatives were concerned about its conduct. According to him, this may have influenced the decision to postpone Pope Leo XIV’s planned visit to the US, which was expected in July as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
The US Department of Defence stated that the Free Press’s account of the meeting was exaggerated and distorted. A department spokesperson noted that talks between the Pentagon and the Vatican had been cordial and constructive, and emphasised a willingness to continue dialogue with the Holy See.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly did not directly comment on these reports. She highlighted the achievements of the Donald Trump administration in foreign policy and noted that positive relations between the US and the Vatican remain intact. According to her, these were strengthened by Vice-President J.D. Vance’s participation in Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass.
Meanwhile, a Vatican representative told Free Press that the potentially harsh statements could have been a reaction to the Pope’s stance on the so-called Donro doctrine, which relates to the US’s vision of influence in the Western Hemisphere.
In January, during his annual address to the Vatican’s diplomatic corps, Pope Leo XIV stated that diplomacy based on dialogue and the search for consensus is yielding to the diplomacy of force.
The Vatican also drew attention to historical parallels linked to the Avignon period of the 14th century, when the papacy came under the influence of the French crown.
US Vice-President J.D. Vance stated this week in Budapest that he was unaware of reports regarding the meeting and intended to investigate the circumstances. He noted that one should not draw conclusions based on unconfirmed reports.
The latest reports emerged following Pope Leo XIV’s statements in response to Donald Trump’s remarks regarding Iran. The Pope described the threat against the Iranian people as unacceptable and emphasised that this is not merely a matter of international law, but also a moral issue.
The Pope has also publicly criticised the Trump administration’s tough immigration policy.
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