Wed May 21 13:00:00 UTC 2025: **Pope Leo XIV Receives Invitation to U.S. Amid Ukraine Ceasefire Push**
ROME (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance extended an invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the United States during a Vatican meeting Monday, as the U.S. spearheads diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The invitation was delivered in a letter from President Donald Trump and the First Lady to the Chicago-born pontiff, who responded with “at some point,” according to Vatican Media footage. Vance also gifted Pope Leo XIV, a Catholic convert since 2019, with two works by St. Augustine, a Chicago Bears T-shirt bearing Leo’s name, and bronze sculpture.
The meeting comes amid a U.S.-led diplomatic push for ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine. Vance was joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Both met with Vatican Foreign Minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher discussing various international issues.
The Vatican stated that topics included calling “for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved.”
President Trump said that both Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin ceasefire negotiations due in part from the Vatican’s interest in hosting negotiations.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, spent years as an Augustinian missionary. His brother and sister-in-law joined the delegation during the visit.
The visit came as Leo XIV met with representatives of Christian denominations and non-Christian faiths, pledging to work for unity and to make the Catholic Church a sign of peace.
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