Pope Francis skipped a meeting with the Vice President of the United States of America (U.S) JD Vance on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Vatican News reported that JD Vance was received at the Secretariat of State by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations.
“During the cordial talks, satisfaction was expressed for the good existing bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America, and the common commitment to protect the right to freedom of religion and conscience was reiterated,” the statement noted.
Besides, Vance discussed international issues like war, refugees, prisoners, and the humanitarian situation with religious leaders.
The leaders also discussed collaboration between the State and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.
“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,” reads another part of the statement.
Vance and the Catholic leaders also discussed other issues of mutual interest.
He also participated in the Solemn Liturgy for the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday evening in St. Peter’s Basilica, with his family, in the context of his international tour, which has brought him to Italy and will bring him afterward to India.
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JD Vance Statement
However, a statement from Vance’s office about the meeting did not include migration among the topics of conversation.
The statement said the two discussed “the plight of persecuted Christian communities around the world” as well as Trump’s “commitment to restoring world peace,”.
“It was an honour to visit the Vatican during Holy Week, and a blessing to experience the beauty and reverence of the Good Friday liturgy at St. Peter’s Basilica,” Vance said in a statement.
Sources at the Vatican who spoke to Sky News said that Vance briefly met with Pope Francis at his residence.
The Vatican has not made details of their conversation public.
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Pope Francis Criticises Trump’s Deportations
In February, Pope Francis rebuked U.S President Donald Trump’s administration plans for mass deportations of migrants.
In a letter, the Pope warned that forcibly removing people solely because of their illegal status strips them of their inherent dignity and “will end badly.”
Francis said nations have the right to defend themselves and keep their communities safe from criminals.
“That said, the act of deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment, damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness,” he wrote.
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