Sun Apr 20 10:10:00 UTC 2025: ## US Vice President Vance Holds Talks with Vatican Officials Amidst Tensions Over Immigration and War
**Vatican City** – US Vice President JD Vance met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Gallagher on Saturday for discussions focused on international conflicts and immigration policies, the Vatican announced. While the meeting was described as cordial, it highlighted ongoing tensions between the US administration and the Holy See.
The Vatican statement noted an “exchange of opinions” on the international situation, particularly concerning war-torn countries and humanitarian crises involving migrants and refugees. While expressing satisfaction with the administration’s commitment to religious freedom, the Vatican also reiterated its concerns about the impact of US policies on vulnerable populations.
The meeting comes against a backdrop of differing views on immigration. The Vatican has previously voiced alarm over the Trump administration’s restrictive immigration policies, a stance echoed by Pope Francis, who has championed the rights of migrants. Vance, a Catholic convert, has publicly defended the administration’s approach, citing theological justifications that have been challenged by the Pope. This difference of opinion was implicitly referenced in the Vatican’s statement’s call for “serene collaboration” between the US government and the Catholic Church. This seemingly alludes to Vance’s previous accusations against the US Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding immigration resettlement programs, accusations that have been strongly refuted by leading US cardinals.
Cardinal Parolin, in remarks prior to the meeting, acknowledged the significant difference between the current US administration’s approach and the policies the Vatican has traditionally engaged with. He reaffirmed the Vatican’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and stressed the need for a peace agreement built on dialogue and mutual respect, not imposed on Ukraine.
Vance, who was in Rome with his family for the Easter weekend, also attended religious services and met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. While it remains unclear whether he met with Pope Francis, who is recovering from pneumonia, the Pope’s previous public criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration policies and Vance’s interpretations of Catholic doctrine on the matter continue to frame the dialogue between the Vatican and the US administration.
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