Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican on May 19, 2025. The meeting marked the first high-level U.S.-Vatican encounter since Leo’s election on May 8. Vance, a Catholic convert, was accompanied later by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also Catholic, during the visit to the Apostolic Palace.
Though the Vatican confirmed the meeting took place, no specifics were shared. A Vance spokesperson stated the Vice President and Pope Leo held a one-on-one session before Rubio joined. Vatican-released images showed the three smiling during the conversation. The meeting comes amid a backdrop of political tension. As a cardinal, Leo had expressed opposition to hardline immigration policies under President Trump’s administration, though the Vatican has neither confirmed nor denied the authenticity of those past posts on X.
Vance, known for advocating a family-first interpretation of Christian values, had previously drawn criticism from Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21. Francis, a vocal critic of the Trump-era deportation plans, once labeled them a "disgrace." Vance had met briefly with Francis on Easter Sunday, just one day before the pope’s death.
Both Vance and Rubio are in Rome leading the U.S. delegation to Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass, which drew an estimated 200,000 attendees in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday. Later Monday, Vance also met with officials at the Vatican’s Secretariat of State. According to the Vatican, the talks were "cordial" and included discussions on global conflicts, stressing the need for humanitarian and international law, and encouraging diplomatic resolutions.
The meeting underscores ongoing political and moral debates between the U.S. and the Holy See.