Pope Leo XIV held a private meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican, a pivotal moment in improving tensions between the American Right and the papacy. This closed-door discussion is the first between two prominent Catholic figures following Leo's election.
The meeting emerged during a delicate period marked by disagreement on themes like immigration and theology. Notably, Leo's comments last week about the Church's role as a mediator in global conflicts were fresh in the conversation, with the ongoing war in Ukraine being a key focus. Both Leo and Vance had previously met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasizing the humanitarian facet of their discussions.
Following his engagement with Pope Leo, Vance also conversed with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican's foreign minister. The Vatican characterized this exchange as cordial, underlining a commitment to fostering positive bilateral relations. Their talks reportedly included perspectives on various international issues that advocated adherence to humanitarian and international law in conflict settings.
This meeting stirs hopes among American conservatives for a reconciliation of sorts with the Holy See, notably after years of friction experienced during Pope Francis's tenure. Often regarded as critical of conservative ideologies, Francis’s critiques of former President Trump as "not Christian" highlighted the schism between the Vatican and the Republican agenda, particularly regarding immigration policies. Under Leo's papacy, many are hopeful for a more harmonious collaboration with American conservatives, considering previous partnerships aligning more with Democratic ideals on numerous pressing global issues.
