The Vatican has revealed what transpired during a somewhat awkward meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Saturday, April 19, despite initially describing the encounter as “cordial.”
Vance, a Catholic convert, visited Vatican City over the weekend and met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, as well as Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister.
While official statements emphasized the cordial nature of the discussions, there were clear differences of opinion between the two sides.
The Vatican has remained cautious in its stance toward the Trump administration, particularly regarding policies on immigration. The Holy See has consistently advocated for a more compassionate approach—one that often runs counter to Trump’s hardline policies.
Tensions also emerged when Trump announced a halt to international aid to Ukraine, following a contentious Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Vatican, in contrast, has emphasized the importance of continued support for Ukraine and has consistently called for peaceful resolutions to both the war in Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The Vatican has revealed what was said to JD Vance (Kenny Holston – Pool/Getty Images)
Although Vance did not meet with Pope Francis due to his ongoing recovery from pneumonia, the Vatican provided details of the discussions that took place during his visit.
“There was an exchange of views on the global situation, particularly concerning nations affected by war, political tensions, and humanitarian crises,” the Vatican said. “Special attention was given to the plight of migrants, refugees, and prisoners.”
The statement also conveyed a shared hope for constructive cooperation between the U.S. government and the Catholic Church, noting the Church’s valuable contributions to supporting the most vulnerable populations.
Ahead of Vance’s visit on Saturday, Cardinal Parolin remarked to La Repubblica: “It is clear that the current U.S. administration’s approach is quite different from what we’ve been accustomed to—especially in the West, where we have long relied on certain norms.”
JD Vance with Pietro Parolin on Saturday (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
Just days before being hospitalized with pneumonia in February, Pope Francis penned a pointed letter to U.S. bishops that appeared to respond directly to Vice President Vance’s remarks on immigration.
The letter was widely interpreted as a rebuke of Vance’s claim that Catholic doctrine supported the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies.
“Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that gradually extends to other persons and groups,” the Pope wrote. “The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is the one we discover through constant meditation on the parable of the Good Samaritan—that is, a love that fosters a fraternity open to all, without exception.”
While Vance has not shied away from the Pope’s implicit criticism, he has remained firm in defending his views—lightheartedly referring to himself as a “Baby Catholic.”
