Vance addresses report the Pentagon threatened the Vatican - BERITAJA

Vice President JD Vance said he would personally look into a bombshell study alleging elder Pentagon officials summoned Pope Leo XIV’s Vatican ambassador to a closed-door meeting.

Vance made the remarks connected April 8 while opinionated successful beforehand of Air Force Two successful Budapest, Hungary, wherever he had traveled to speak astatine an electoral rally for Hungarian President Viktor Orbán. A newsman confronted him about a quickly spreading article from The Free Press.

Asked whether the study was accurate, Vance said he had not seen it. He initially appeared unfamiliar pinch Cardinal Christophe Pierre earlier recalling him.

“I’ve ne'er seen this reporting,” Vance said. “I’d for illustration to really talk to Cardinal Christophe Pierre and frankly to our group to fig retired what really happened. I deliberation it’s ever a bad thought to connection an sentiment connected stories that are unconfirmed and uncorroborated, truthful I’m not going to do that.”

His consequence signaled a measured attack arsenic the study fuels statement complete U.S. engagement pinch belief institutions connected overseas argumentation and subject authority.

What the Free Press reported

According to The Free Press, days aft Pope Leo delivered his State of the World address, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby summoned Cardinal Pierre, the Vatican’s U.S. representative, to a closed-door Pentagon gathering described arsenic a bitter exchange.

Colby allegedly told Pierre that “the United States has the subject powerfulness to do immoderate it wants successful the world,” adding, “The Catholic Church had amended return its side.”

As reported by The Free Press and confirmed by independent Vatican newsman Christopher Hale, tensions escalated during the meeting. One U.S. charismatic referenced the Avignon Papacy, erstwhile the French Crown utilized subject unit to power the Bishop of Rome.

There are nary nationalist records of erstwhile Pentagon meetings pinch Vatican officials, nor immoderate lawsuit suggesting the U.S. could unit the Bishop of Rome into captivity.

The Pentagon’s Response

A Department of Defense spokesperson told Newsweek, “The gathering betwixt [the] Pentagon and Vatican officials was a respectful and reasonable discussion. We person thing but the highest respect and invited continued speech pinch the Holy See.”

“The Free Press’ characterization of the gathering is highly exaggerated and distorted,” the spokesperson added. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

Independent newsman confirms the meeting

Christopher Hale, an independent Vatican journalist, confirmed the gathering took place. He besides reported that the Vatican declined an invitation from the Trump-Vance White House to big Pope Leo for America’s 250th day celebrations successful 2026.

Hale said the Vatican was alarmed by the Pentagon’s approach. He added that Pope Leo shelved plans to sojourn the United States later this twelvemonth and that officials viewed the Avignon reference arsenic a imaginable threat involving subject unit against the Holy See.

What triggered the meeting

The Pentagon gathering followed months of rising tensions betwixt Donald Trump and Pope Leo. Colby reportedly summoned Cardinal Pierre aft the Pope’s January State of the World address, which officials viewed arsenic dispute to the administration.

A cardinal statement that drew disapproval was the Pope’s connection that “a diplomacy that promotes speech and seeks statement among each parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based connected force.”

The remark was seen arsenic a critique of Trump’s “Donroe Doctrine,” an updated type of the Monroe Doctrine emphasizing U.S. power successful the Western Hemisphere.

Faith leaders push backmost connected Administration’s warfare rhetoric

The contention is expected to deepen belief guidance to what critics picture arsenic progressively fierce rhetoric from the Trump administration, peculiarly regarding subject actions successful Iran.

Faith leaders person raised concerns about the management invoking belief connection successful support of subject policy. The rumor resurfaced during a Pentagon briefing led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

When asked about the reports, Vance, a Catholic convert, offered a much cautious view. He said , “I deliberation my cognition toward subject conflict has ever been to believe that we are connected God’s side.”