logo
JD Vance brushes off new Pope 'snub' by giving him very unusual gift in closed-door Vatican meeting

JD Vance brushes off new Pope 'snub' by giving him very unusual gift in closed-door Vatican meeting

Daily Mail​19-05-2025

Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha met with Pope Leo XIV on Monday during an official papal audience with the American delegation that traveled to the Vatican for the pope's inaugural mass.
The Vice President met with the American-born pope from Chicago and presented him with a Chicago Bears Jersey with the name Pope Leo XIV stitched on the back.
'In the United States, people are extremely excited,' Vance told the Pope, according to video of the meeting at the Vatican.
The Vice President also presented Vance with a letter from President Donald Trump inviting the new pope to visit the United States.
The Vatican revealed that Pope Leo had 'cordial' talks with Vance during his visit.
'During the cordial talks held at the Secretariat of State, satisfaction was once again expressed at the existing good bilateral relations, and the collaboration between Church and State was discussed, as well as some matters of special relevance to ecclesial life and religious freedom,' the press release from the Vatican read.
Vance and the pope spoke about current conflicts around the world, presumably the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
'[H]ope was expressed that humanitarian law and international law be respected in areas of conflict and that there be a negotiated solution between the parties involved,' the Vatican noted.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also present for the meeting with the pope as part of the American delegation that traveled to the Vatican on Sunday for the pope's inaugural mass.
'I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother, who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy, walking with you on the path of God's love, for he wants us all to be united in one family,' the pope said during his homily.
The pope also spoke about the need for 'unity' throughout the world and criticized 'too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth's resources and marginalizes the poorest.'
After the Mass, Vance and his wife were seen shaking hands Pope Leo and exchanging a few words for about 17 seconds, which was mistakenly interpreted as a 'snub' of the vice president as the pair was scheduled for a private audience.
Pope Leo XIV exchanges gifts with US Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha Vance during a private audience at the Apostolic Palace
Vance converted to the Catholic faith in 2019.
This is the second trip Vance has made to the Vatican in less than a month, as the vice president visited in April for the celebration of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Vance met with Pope Francis just hours before he died on April 21, at his residence.
After Pope Leo was elected by the Papal conclave, resurfaced posts on his X account showed several posts that shared articles critical of the Trump administration and Vance's Christian defense for the administration's tough immigration polices.
Vance dismissed their disagreements on immigration policy, telling radio host Hugh Hewitt that 'I try not to play the politicization of the Pope game.'
'I'm sure he's going to say a lot of things that I love. I'm sure he'll say some things that I disagree with, but I'll continue to pray for him and the Church despite it all and through it all, and that'll be the way that I handle it,' he said.
'I think it would be better for all of us if we allowed the Church to be about the saving of souls and didn't try to fit it into a pre-ordained political box,' he concluded.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

US and China ease trade war tensions by agreeing ‘framework' truce in London
US and China ease trade war tensions by agreeing ‘framework' truce in London

The Guardian

time6 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

US and China ease trade war tensions by agreeing ‘framework' truce in London

Update: Date: 2025-06-11T06:23:08.000Z Title: Introduction: US and China agree to framework deal to restore trade war truce Content: Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. 'Jaw, jaw is better than war, war,' as Harold Macmillan once remarked. And after two days of talking in London, the US and China have managed to patch up their trade conflict truce. Just before midnight last night the two countries agreed a framework that, it is hoped, will ease tensions between the two economic superpowers. It will reinforce their initial agreement made in Geneva a month ago, once presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have approved it. Speaking at Lancaster House last night, US commerce scretary Howard Lutnick said the trade framework and implementation plan agreed with China in London should result in restrictions on rare earths and magents being resolved. That had been a key demand for the US side, worried that American companies were being starved of vital supplies. Lutnick told reporters the US negotiating team will take the framework back to Trump to get his approval, and then hope to implement it. Lutnick says they had to get the 'negativity out' first when it comes to the US-China trade relationship. 'It's been President Trump's fundamental goal to reduce the trade deficit and increase trade. So this was the first step that the framework by which we will then approach… China's vice commerce minister Li Chenggang described the talks as 'rational and candid', telling reporters: 'The two sides have, in principle, reached a framework for implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state during the phone call on June 5th and the consensus reached at the Geneva meeting.' The talks, which began on Monday morning, took longer than expected – with the two sides sustained by deliveries from restaurant chain Ottolenghi, McDonald's, Burger King and KFC. Food update at the trade talks at Lancaster House— the Chinese delegation is bringing in McDonald's, Burger King and KFC. Investors are now waiting for details of the agreement, and confirmation that it will satisfy Xi and Trump. Traders are also anticipating the latest US inflation report, which may show that the trade war has driven up prices in the shops. Economists predict the US CPI index will have risen to 2.5%, from 2.3%. While in London, chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver the government's spending review, outlining day-to-day departmental spending for the next three years. 12pm BST: US weekly mortgage applications data 12.30pm BST: Chancellor Rachel Reeves to deliver UK spending review 1.30pm BST: US inflation report for May

US criticises UK decision to sanction two Israeli ministers
US criticises UK decision to sanction two Israeli ministers

Powys County Times

time7 minutes ago

  • Powys County Times

US criticises UK decision to sanction two Israeli ministers

The US has condemned the UK's decision to sanction two Israeli ministers over 'egregious abuses' of human rights in Gaza. Donald Trump's secretary of state Marco Rubio said that the travel ban and asset freeze imposed on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich 'do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire' and called for the measures to be reversed. The UK is taking the action alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway. Mr Rubio said that the US 'stands shoulder-to-shoulder' with Israel. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Tuesday that the ministers had been 'inciting violence against Palestinian people for months and months and months, they have been encouraging egregious abuses of human rights'. In a post on X, Mr Rubio said that the 'United States condemns the sanctions imposed by the governments of United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia on two sitting members of the Israeli cabinet. These sanctions do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war.' The United States condemns the sanctions imposed by the governments of United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia on two sitting members of the Israeli cabinet. These sanctions do not advance U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and… — Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) June 10, 2025 He went on to say that America reminds 'our partners not to forget who the real enemy is'. 'The United States urges the reversal of the sanctions and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel.' The sanctions against Israel's security and finance ministers were announced on Tuesday. Mr Smotrich and Mr Ben-Gvir both belong to right-wing parties which help to prop up Benjamin Netanyahu's fragile coalition government, and both have been criticised for their hardline stance on Gaza. Mr Smotrich has campaigned against allowing aid into Gaza, and also supported the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law. Meanwhile, Mr Ben-Gvir has called for Gaza's people to be resettled from the territory. In a joint statement with the foreign ministers of the other nations who also imposed sanctions, Mr Lammy said that the two sanctioned ministers had incited 'serious abuses of Palestinian human rights' and described their actions as 'not acceptable'. The statement added: 'We will strive to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of the remaining hostages by Hamas which can have no future role in the governance of Gaza, a surge in aid and a path to a two-state solution.' Downing Street said that the two men had been sanctioned in their 'personal capacities' and not 'their ministries and departments'. 'As the Israeli ambassador to the UK has said in recent interviews, their statements in their ministerial capacities do not even represent government policy,' a Number 10 spokesman said. The UK and other allies have upped pressure on Israel in recent weeks, amid aid shortages in Gaza and suggestions a large-scale offensive could be launched into the territory. It has been reported that only scarce amounts of aid is making it into the hands of people, and the slow flow of food and medicines has prompted warnings of famine and starvation.

US criticises UK decision to sanction two Israeli ministers
US criticises UK decision to sanction two Israeli ministers

South Wales Guardian

time7 minutes ago

  • South Wales Guardian

US criticises UK decision to sanction two Israeli ministers

Donald Trump's secretary of state Marco Rubio said that the travel ban and asset freeze imposed on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich 'do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire' and called for the measures to be reversed. The UK is taking the action alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway. Mr Rubio said that the US 'stands shoulder-to-shoulder' with Israel. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Tuesday that the ministers had been 'inciting violence against Palestinian people for months and months and months, they have been encouraging egregious abuses of human rights'. In a post on X, Mr Rubio said that the 'United States condemns the sanctions imposed by the governments of United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia on two sitting members of the Israeli cabinet. These sanctions do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war.' The United States condemns the sanctions imposed by the governments of United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia on two sitting members of the Israeli cabinet. These sanctions do not advance U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and… — Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) June 10, 2025 He went on to say that America reminds 'our partners not to forget who the real enemy is'. 'The United States urges the reversal of the sanctions and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel.' The sanctions against Israel's security and finance ministers were announced on Tuesday. Mr Smotrich and Mr Ben-Gvir both belong to right-wing parties which help to prop up Benjamin Netanyahu's fragile coalition government, and both have been criticised for their hardline stance on Gaza. Mr Smotrich has campaigned against allowing aid into Gaza, and also supported the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law. Meanwhile, Mr Ben-Gvir has called for Gaza's people to be resettled from the territory. In a joint statement with the foreign ministers of the other nations who also imposed sanctions, Mr Lammy said that the two sanctioned ministers had incited 'serious abuses of Palestinian human rights' and described their actions as 'not acceptable'. The statement added: 'We will strive to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of the remaining hostages by Hamas which can have no future role in the governance of Gaza, a surge in aid and a path to a two-state solution.' Downing Street said that the two men had been sanctioned in their 'personal capacities' and not 'their ministries and departments'. 'As the Israeli ambassador to the UK has said in recent interviews, their statements in their ministerial capacities do not even represent government policy,' a Number 10 spokesman said. The UK and other allies have upped pressure on Israel in recent weeks, amid aid shortages in Gaza and suggestions a large-scale offensive could be launched into the territory. It has been reported that only scarce amounts of aid is making it into the hands of people, and the slow flow of food and medicines has prompted warnings of famine and starvation.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store