Pope Leo XIV holds private meeting with VP Vance and Secretary Rubio at Vatican
Pope Leo XIV recently held a private meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, along with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his wife, Jeanette. The meeting took place after the dignitaries had attended the pope’s inaugural mass on Sunday.
During the private audience with the first American pope, Vance also met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. The discussions were described as “cordial” and focused on reinforcing the good bilateral relations between the U.S. government and the Holy See.
In addition to discussing collaboration between the Church and the U.S. government, they also touched upon matters concerning ecclesial life and religious freedom. The conversation extended to current international issues, emphasizing the importance of respecting humanitarian law and international law in conflict zones and advocating for negotiated solutions between conflicting parties.
Pope Leo XIV reiterated his stance on family values during the meeting, emphasizing that the family is based on the “union between a man and a woman” and defending the dignity of the unborn. The pope’s commitment to unity and peace was highlighted during his inaugural mass, where he vowed to work towards fostering harmony and cooperation among nations.
The discussions between the pontiff and the American officials underscored the shared values and priorities of the U.S. government and the Vatican. The dialogue aimed at strengthening the ties between the two entities and addressing key global issues in a collaborative manner.
Overall, the private meeting between Pope Leo XIV, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and their spouses reflected a commitment to dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation in addressing the challenges facing the international community. The exchange of views and perspectives laid the groundwork for continued collaboration on a range of issues of common interest.
