JD Vance is making haste to get in the new Pope’s good books. The Vice President took a trip to Rome to discuss the United States’ relations with the Vatican. He was joined by his wife, Usha Vance, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his wife. Here’s what happened when the group met.
The meeting with Pope Leo lasted 45 minutes, and customary gifts were exchanged during the meeting. Vance gifted the head of the church a Chicago Bears t-shirt that featured his name. The Pope was also gifted two St Augustine books by the Vice President.
JD Vance also invited Pope Leo to visit the White House “as soon as [he] possibly can” on Donald Trump and Melania’s behalf. Vance, Rubio, and their wives flew to the Vatican to attend the Pope’s inaugural mass. A few days after the inaugural mass, the VP and the Secretary of State joined Pope Leo to discuss several crucial topics.
During the meeting, the group discussed the violence that has plagued the Gaza Strip. They also spoke about the Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations and the relationship between the Pope and the United States. Vance detailed what happened in the meeting in an interview with NBC.
This weekend, I led the US Delegation to Rome and met with Pope Leo XIV, as well as many other Church and international leaders.
I’m grateful to Pope Leo for the opportunity to meet with him, and I pray the Holy Spirit guides him with wisdom and fortitude during his papacy. pic.twitter.com/YMJ8P9EEZF
— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) May 20, 2025
“It’s hard to predict the future, but I do think that not just the pope,” the Vice President began. He added how the Pope and the Vatican have shown their support and “expressed a desire” to help find a solution. Vance added that the Pope agreed to work together, beginning with a “peace deal coming together in Russia and Ukraine.”
“We have an American pope of the world’s largest single religion,” the Vice President was heard saying. He noted how the Pope has an “incredible amount” of capacity to “convene and influence” in these matters despite not having an army. Vance noted how the Pope stands in a position to influence not only Europe but the whole world.
It was an honor to join so many of the faithful at the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV this morning! pic.twitter.com/Ggz9cBArCg
— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) May 18, 2025
Vance shared that the new Pope cares a lot about peace, which makes him hopeful that the meeting marked the “beginning of a very good relationship.” The 40-year-old noted how his “hope” is that the trip was productive and the relationship between the Vatican and the US can lead to “a lot fewer people getting killed and a lot less humanitarian disaster.”
The Holy See’s statement addressed a similar agenda that detailed the talk that happened between the US politicians and the Pope. The statement mentioned how the group spoke about the ongoing international issues with a shared “call for respect for humanitarian and international law in conflict zones.”
Scroll below to see pictures of the Vance family on their trip to the Vatican.
