Pope Leo XIV Meets U.S. Leaders in First Days as Pontiff
Fresh off his inaugural Mass, Pope Leo XIV welcomed U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Vatican on Monday, marking one of his first high-profile meetings as the new leader of the Catholic Church.
Photos released from the visit captured warm smiles and handshakes, as the trio exchanged greetings in a calm, respectful atmosphere. The visit lasted about 45 minutes, according to a representative from the Vice President’s office.
After their private audience with the Pope, Vance also met with Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, for a more detailed conversation.
The Vatican described the meeting as friendly and constructive, noting mutual appreciation for the strong ties between the United States and the Holy See. Topics ranged from Church-State cooperation to matters surrounding faith, community life, and religious liberty.
The conversations also delved into global issues. Both sides stressed the need to uphold humanitarian values and international laws, especially in areas facing unrest. There was a shared call for dialogue and peaceful solutions to global tensions.
Vance and Rubio, both practicing Catholics, had joined thousands of others at St. Peter’s Square the day before to witness Pope Leo XIV’s first Mass. The crowd included world leaders, royals, and worshippers — all eager to welcome the new spiritual head.
Notably, Pope Leo XIV had previously used his personal social media platform to critique U.S. policies, especially those tied to immigration, and even directed some of that criticism toward Vance himself.
Despite their political differences, Vance expressed admiration and support for the new pontiff during a meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
“The United States is proud of Pope Leo XIV,” Vance said. “We’re praying for him as he steps into this sacred role.”
