US Vice-President JD Vance has officially invited Pope Leo to Washington. The White House confirmed this after their meeting at the Vatican. During the meeting, Vance handed Pope Leo a letter from President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. According to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, the letter asked the Pope to visit “as soon as [he] possibly can.”
Vatican and US Praise Strong Relations
Meanwhile, the Vatican released a statement. It said both sides were satisfied with the relationship between the US and the Holy See.
Earlier, on Sunday, Vance — a Catholic — attended the Pope’s inaugural mass along with other leaders and worshippers.
Key Topics Discussed
On Monday, Vance and Vatican officials discussed several key issues. These included religious freedom and cooperation between the church and government. In addition, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined the discussions.
Furthermore, the Vatican stated, “Finally, there was an exchange of views on current international issues with a shared call for respect for humanitarian and international law in conflict zones, and support for negotiated solutions among the parties involved.”
Meeting Took Place in Private
According to Vance’s spokesperson, the meeting lasted for 45 minutes. Notably, the meeting happened behind closed doors, and reporters were not allowed in.
Traditional Exchange of Gifts
As part of tradition, the two leaders exchanged gifts. Vance gave Pope Leo a Chicago Bears t-shirt with his name on it. He also gave the Pope two books written by St. Augustine. The Bears are an American football team from Chicago, the Pope’s birthplace.
In return, Pope Leo gifted Vance a bronze sculpture with the words “peace is a fragile flower” in Italian. Additionally, he gave him a picture book of the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace.
More Talks with Vatican Diplomats
Afterward, Vance also held a separate meeting with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. He manages the Vatican’s diplomatic relations. The Vatican described these talks as positive.
Past Criticism from Pope's Account
Previously, in February, an X account under Pope Leo’s name posted criticism of the Trump administration’s deportation plans. That same month, the account also shared an article titled: “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others.”
So far, the Vatican has not confirmed whether the account truly belongs to the Pope. It also did not respond to questions from BBC News.
Vance Offers Support Despite Past Tensions
Despite these earlier tensions, Vance expressed strong support for the new Pope. On Sunday, he said, “Certainly our prayers go with him as he starts this very important work.” He added that the United States was “very proud” of the Chicago-born pontiff.