The meeting comes after months of tension between the administration of US President Donald Trump and American church leaders over immigration policies
US Vice President JD Vance met with top Vatican officials on Saturday to exchange views on issues concerning migrants, refugees, and prisoners.
The meeting comes after months of tension between the administration of US President Donald Trump and American church leaders over immigration policies.
Vance, a Catholic, has been visiting Rome with his family over the Easter weekend and attended a Good Friday service in St Peter’s Basilica.
During his visit, he held talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States. Saturday’s meeting marked the first in-person talks between the Holy See and the Trump administration during its second term.
According to a Vatican communique released after the meeting, “There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners.”
The Vatican statement released following the meeting with Vance on Saturday said that during the talks, “hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the State and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.”
Despite any tensions, the Vatican is accustomed to engaging with leaders with whom it disagrees. The statement noted that “the good existing bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America, and the common commitment to protect the right to freedom of religion and conscience, were reiterated.”
Following his visit, Vance shared a post on the social media platform X, wishing Christians around the world a blessed Good Friday.
“I’m grateful every day for this job, but particularly today, where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday. I had a great meeting with Prime Minister Meloni and her team, and will head to church soon with my family in this beautiful city,” the post read.
“I wish all Christians all over the world, but particularly those back home in the US, a blessed Good Friday,” it added.
Vance will undertake an official visit to India from April 21 to 24 and will arrive in New Delhi on Monday.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that he will be received at the Air Force Station, Palam, at 10:00 am. A formal meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled at 6:30 pm, the same day at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
On Tuesday, April 22, Vance will travel to Jaipur, while on Wednesday, April 23, Vance will visit Agra.
Concluding his visit, Vice President Vance will depart from India on Thursday, April 24, at 6:40 am.
Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, on the upcoming visit of Vance, had said that India has a Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership with the US, and when such a high-level visit takes place, all issues of importance are discussed.
“This is an Official Visit. He will be meeting the Prime Minister. And with the United States of America, we have a Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership. So, when you have that level of partnership with any country, obviously you will discuss all relevant issues,” Jaiswal said during his weekly media briefing on Thursday.
Jaiswal added that India was very certain that the visit would give a further boost to India-US bilateral ties.
“And with America, with the United States, of course, our relationship is such that we are doing anything that is part of human endeavour… forms part of our bilateral engagement. So, all these issues, bilateral issues will be discussed. And we are very positive that the visit will give a further boost to our bilateral ties,” he said.
The Office of the Vice President in a release last week had said, “Vice President JD Vance and the Second Family will travel to Italy and India from April 18 to April 24. The Vice President will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country.”
“In India, the Vice President will visit New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. The Vice President will hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Vice President and Second Family will also participate in engagements at cultural sites,” the release said. (ANI)
