The American vice-president, JD Vance, met senior Vatican officials in the midst of strong differences on the repression of the White House against migrants, the Holy See reaffirming good relations but noting “an exchange of opinions” on the question and current international conflicts.
According to a declaration by the Vatican, Vance, a Catholic convert, met the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
“There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, in particular with regard to countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees and prisoners,” the statement said.
It was not mentioned if Vance stopped to greet Pope Francis, who resumed certain official functions when he restored pneumonia.
The Holy See, which has a tradition of diplomatic neutrality, expressed its alarm in the face of the repression of the administration against migrants and the cuts of international aid while emphasizing peaceful resolutions for wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Although these concerns have reflected in the declaration, the Vatican noted that discussions with JD Vance were cordial and expressed their satisfaction with the administration’s commitment to protect freedom of religion and conscience.
“Finally, Hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose precious service to the most vulnerable people has been recognized,” added the press release.
In addition to his family, JD Vance spends the Easter weekend in Rome and attended the Good Friday services in the Saint-Pierre basilica after meeting Giorgia Meloni, the Italian Prime Minister.
Vance views were faced with the papal reprimand
A few days before falling ill and being hospitalized, Pope Francis and Vance had strongly tangled on migration and the plans of the Trump administration to expel migrants en masse.
Francis has made the care of migrants a characteristic of its papacy, and his progressive opinions on questions of social justice have often contradicted him with more conservative members of the American Catholic Church.
Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, identifies with a small Catholic intellectual movement, considered by certain criticisms as having reactionary or authoritarian tendencies, often called “post-liberal”.
This group would share long -standing Catholic conservative opinions, such as opposition to abortion and LGBTQ +rights.
Observers believe that they are considering a counter-revolution in which they take control of the government's bureaucracy and institutions such as interior universities, replacing the “elites” rooted by theirs and acting on their vision of the “common good”.
In February, just before his hospitalization, Francis sent a letter to the American bishops, seeming to respond directly to Vance for having affirmed that Catholic doctrine justified such politicians.
The American vice-president, who recognized Francis' criticism, said that he would continue to defend his opinions and recently published prayers for the Restoration of the Pope on social networks.
