Pope Leo XIV on Monday received U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican, just one day after the pope’s official inauguration mass.
Photos released by the Vatican show a cordial meeting, with the American officials smiling alongside the Chicago-born pontiff, who was elected on May 8 to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Following the audience, Vance also met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States.
In a statement, the Vatican described the discussions as cordial, noting satisfaction with strong bilateral relations between the U.S. and the Vatican. They also addressed Church-State cooperation, religious freedom, and key issues affecting ecclesial life.
“There was an exchange of views on several international matters,” the statement read, emphasizing “the need to uphold humanitarian and international law in conflict zones and to pursue peaceful, negotiated solutions.”
Background and Reactions
Vice President Vance and Secretary Rubio were among over 200,000 dignitaries, religious leaders, and faithful in attendance at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday for the pope’s installation ceremony.
Before his election, Pope Leo had criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies and had posted unfavorable remarks about Vance on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account.
Despite past criticism, Vance expressed support on Sunday: “The United States is very proud of him. Our prayers go with him as he begins this important mission.”
He made the remarks during meetings with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
