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By Jenna Sundel
News Reporter
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A Vatican diplomat's meeting with the Pentagon was "most unpleasant and confrontational," NBC Chicago reported, citing a source close to Pope Leo XIV.
Why It Matters
The Free Press first reported details of Cardinal Christophe Pierre's meeting with senior Pentagon officials in January. Pierre was reportedly told that the Vatican and the Catholic Church should get on board with the Trump administration's military tactics, according to the outlet. U.S. officials were reported to have lectured Catholic Church representatives.
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A spokesperson for the Department of Defense told Newsweek that the Free Press' characterization of the meeting was "highly exaggerated and distorted."
"The meeting between Pentagon and Vatican officials was a respectful and reasonable discussion," the spokesperson said. "We have nothing but the highest regard and welcome continued dialogue with the Holy See."
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Leo has spoken out multiple times against the Trump administration, including on its handling of the Iran war, since becoming pope.
Leo spoke to reporters on Tuesday about Trump's comments suggesting that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran failed to meet a U.S. deadline.
“Today, as we all know, there was this threat against all the people of Iran,” the pope said. “This is truly unacceptable.”
What To Know
Vice President JD Vance said in Hungary on Wednesday that he would look into the reports.
"I would actually like to talk to Cardinal Cristophe Pierre and, frankly, to our people, to figure out what actually happened," Vance said. "I think it's always a bad idea to offer an opinion on stories that are unconfirmed and uncorroborated, so I'm not going to do that."
During the closed-door meeting, one official reportedly invoked the Avignon Papacy, a time period when the French monarchy used military force to bend the Bishop of Rome to its wishes.
Vatican officials canceled a planned visit by Leo to the U.S. after the meeting, according to the Free Press.
The Department of Defense shared new details about Pierre's January meeting with Under Secretary for Policy Elbridge Colby on Thursday on X, writing, "During the cordial meeting, they discussed a range of topics, including issues of morality in foreign policy, the logic of the U.S. National Security Strategy, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and other topics. Cardinal Pierre expressed his appreciation for the outreach and both sides looked forward to continued open and respectful dialogue."
What People Are Saying
U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch, on X: "I was pleased to speak today with His Eminence, Cardinal Christophe Pierre. As expected, he confirmed that recent media characterizations of his meeting with Undersecretary Colby are 'fabrications' that were 'just invented.' Given the intelligence and seriousness of Mr. Colby, I was likewise not suprised [sic] when His Eminence acknowledged there were no threats of any kind in the meeting. 'It was a frank and cordial meeting that took place two months ago.' Threat of Avignon? 'None.'”
U.S. Embassy to the Holy See, on X: "Deliberate misrepresentation of these routine meetings sows unfounded division and misunderstanding. Our relationship remains strong and productive."
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