This is great news.
VATICAN CITY — In a major diplomatic gesture, Vice President JD Vance extended a personal invite to Pope Leo XIV to come to the United States, delivering a letter from President Donald Trump and the First Lady during a high-level meeting at the Vatican on Monday.
This historic encounter came as the Trump administration ramps up efforts to secure a Ukraine ceasefire and reassert American leadership on the global stage.
Historic Meeting Between Pope Leo XIV and the U.S. Vice President
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope and a native of Chicago, received the letter warmly and was seen in Vatican video saying, “At some point,” as he placed the note on his desk — a moment signaling openness to the White House’s invitation.
Vance, a devout Catholic who converted to Catholicism in 2019, brought deeply symbolic gifts for the Holy Father: two of St. Augustine’s classic works, The City of God and On Christian Doctrine, along with a Chicago Bears T-shirt emblazoned with the Pope’s name — a lighthearted nod to the Pontiff’s Windy City roots.
“People in the United States are extremely excited about you,” Vance told the Pope during the exchange — a sentiment resonating with millions of faith-based Americans.
Catholic Values and Conservative Leadership: A Powerful Alliance
In return, Pope Leo presented Vance with a bronze sculpture inscribed in Italian, “Peace is a fragile flower,” and a large-format photo book of the Vatican apartments — though he noted he hasn’t yet decided whether to reside there.
Vance led the official U.S. delegation to Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass on Sunday, joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Catholic. The team later met with the Vatican’s top diplomat, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, to discuss current international issues, including the war in Ukraine.
According to a Vatican statement, the leaders emphasized the importance of “respect for humanitarian law” and the need for a negotiated peace agreement — themes that align with President Trump’s renewed diplomatic strategy.
Trump’s Foreign Policy: Strong, Strategic, and Focused on Peace
The Vatican, which was largely sidelined during the early years of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is now signaling its willingness to host peace negotiations. At the same time, it continues to support humanitarian missions, including prisoner exchanges and efforts to reunite Ukrainian children taken by Russian forces.
Following his meeting with the Pope, Vance held strategic talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Meloni later had a call with President Trump in preparation for his expected conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin — an essential step toward a potential Trump-led peace summit.
Pope Leo XIV: A New Era for the Catholic Church
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a lifelong Augustinian missionary known for his decades of service in Chiclayo, Peru. Since his election on May 8, he has pledged to use his position to “make every effort” to help bring peace to Ukraine.
While Leo has expressed admiration for Pope Francis’s dedication to the poor and migrants, some of his previous social media activity suggests he once shared criticism of Trump’s immigration policies — highlighting a possible area of policy contrast.
Nevertheless, the current dialogue between Trump’s leadership and the Catholic Church signals a fresh chapter grounded in shared principles: peace through strength, compassion through action, and respect for national sovereignty.
Conclusion: A Critical Moment for U.S.–Vatican Relations
Vice President JD Vance’s mission to the Vatican underscores the Trump administration’s renewed global diplomacy and commitment to traditional values.
With President Trump working tirelessly to bring peace to Eastern Europe, and Pope Leo XIV stepping into his historic role as the first American pope, the foundation is being laid for a future defined by strength, faith, and freedom.