The Vatican has detailed exactly what was said to Vice President JD Vance in a somewhat awkward exchange that took place on Saturday (April 19).
Vance, who is a a Catholic convert, touched down in Vatican City over the weekend for a meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the secretary of state, and foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
While the Vatican admitted to ‘cordial’ talks, there was perhaps unexpectedly a difference of opinion between the two parties in the meeting.
The Holy See has certainly remained very cautions over the Trump administration, acting somewhat against’s the 47 POTUS’ stance on immigration.
They also took a step back when Trump announced he was cutting international aid to Ukraine following an explosive Oval Office row between Trump and Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Vatican has also called for a peaceful end to the conflicts taking place in Ukraine and Gaza.
The Vatican has revealed what was said to JD Vance (Kenny Holston – Pool/Getty Images)
While Vance did not meet with Pope Francis amid his ongoing recovery from pneumonia, the Vatican did detail the conversations that took place with Vance.
“There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners,” they said.
“Finally, hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.”
Prior to Vance’s visit on Saturday, Parolin told La Repubblica: “It is clear that the approach of the current US administration is very different from what we are used to and, especially in the west, from what we have relied on for many years.”
JD Vance with Pietro Parolin on Saturday (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
Pope Francis penned a letter to US bishops just days before he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia in February.
The Pope appeared to correct Vance after the VP claimed that Catholic doctrine justified the Trump administration’s hard stance on immigration.
“Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups,” the Pope wrote.
“The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the good Samaritan, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.”
Vance hasn’t hid away from the criticism thrown his way by Francis, but has continued to defend his views, dubbing himself a ‘Baby Catholic’.
