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Los Angeles Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
JD Vance gives Pope Leo XIV an invitation from Trump to visit U.S.
ROME — U.S. Vice President JD Vance extended an invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the United States during a meeting at the Vatican on Monday ahead of a flurry of U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to make progress on a ceasefire in Russia's war in Ukraine. Vance gave the first American pope a letter from President Trump and the first lady inviting him. The Chicago-born pope took the letter and put it on his desk and was heard saying 'at some point,' in the video footage of the meeting provided by Vatican Media. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, also gave the Augustinian pope a copy of two of St. Augustine's most seminal works, 'The City of God' and 'On Christian Doctrine,' the vice president's office said. Another gift: A Chicago Bears T-shirt with Leo's name on it. 'As you can probably imagine, people in the United States are extremely excited about you,' Vance told Leo as they exchanged gifts. Leo gave Vance a bronze sculpture with the words in Italian 'Peace is a fragile flower,' and a coffee-table sized picture book of the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. Leo noted that Francis had chosen not to live in them and added, 'And I may live in, but it's not totally decided.' Vance led the U.S. delegation to Sunday's formal Mass opening the pontificate of the first American pope. Joining him at the meeting on Monday was Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Catholic, Vance spokesperson Luke Schroeder said. The two then also met with the Vatican foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher. 'There was an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved,' according to a Vatican statement after their meeting. According to the photo of the visits released by the Vatican, Leo's brother, Louis Prevost, a self-described 'MAGA-type,' and his wife, Deborah, joined the delegation during the visit. The Vatican listed Vance's delegation as the first of several private audiences Leo was having Monday with people who had come to Rome for his inaugural Mass, including other Christian leaders and a group of faithful from his old diocese in Chiclayo, Peru. The Vatican, which was largely sidelined during the first three years of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has offered to host any peace talks while continuing humanitarian efforts to facilitate prisoner swaps and reunite Ukrainian children taken by Russia. After greeting Leo briefly at the end of Sunday's Mass, Vance spent the rest of the day in separate meetings, including with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He also met with European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni, who said she hoped the trilateral meeting could be a 'new beginning.' In the evening, Meloni spoke by phone with U.S. President Trump and several other European leaders ahead of Trump's expected call with Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Monday, according to a statement from Meloni's office. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a Chicago-born Augustinian missionary who spent the bulk of his ministry in Chiclayo, a commercial city of around 800,000 on Peru's northern Pacific coast. In the days since his May 8 election, Leo has vowed 'every effort' to help bring peace to Ukraine. He also has emphasized his continuity with Pope Francis, who made caring for migrants and the poor a priority of his pontificate. Before his election, Prevost shared news articles on X that were critical of the Trump administration's plans for mass deportations of migrants. Vance was one of the last foreign officials to meet with Francis before the Argentine pope's April 21 death. The two had tangled over migration, with Francis publicly rebuking the Trump administration's deportation plan and correcting Vance's theological justification for it. Winfield and Martin write for the Associated Press.
Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
JD Vance gives Pope Leo XIV an invitation from Trump to visit US
U.S. Vice President JD Vance extended an invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the United States during a meeting at the Vatican on Monday ahead of a flurry of U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to make progress on a ceasefire in Russia's war in Ukraine. Vance gave the first American pope a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump and the first lady inviting him. The Chicago-born pope took the letter and put it on his desk and was heard saying 'at some point,' in the video footage of the meeting provided by Vatican Media. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, also gave the Augustinian pope a copy of two of St. Augustine's most seminal works, 'The City of God' and 'On Christian Doctrine,' the vice president's office said. Another gift: A Chicago Bears T-shirt with Leo's name on it.'As you can probably imagine, people in the United States are extremely excited about you,' Vance told Leo as they exchanged gifts. Leo gave Vance a bronze sculpture with the words in Italian 'Peace is a fragile flower,' and a coffee-table sized picture book of the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. Leo noted that Francis had chosen not to live in them and added, 'And I may live in, but it's not totally decided.' Vance led the U.S. delegation to Sunday's formal Mass opening the pontificate of the first American pope. Joining him at the meeting on Monday was Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Catholic, Vance spokesperson Luke Schroeder said. The two then also met with the Vatican foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher. 'There was an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved,' according to a Vatican statement after their meeting. The Vatican listed Vance's delegation as the first of several private audiences Leo was having Monday with people who had come to Rome for his inaugural Mass, including other Christian leaders and a group of faithful from his old diocese in Chiclayo, Peru. The Vatican, which was largely sidelined during the first three years of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has offered to host any peace talks while continuing humanitarian efforts to facilitate prisoner swaps and reunite Ukrainian children taken by Russia. After greeting Leo briefly at the end of Sunday's Mass, Vance spent the rest of the day in separate meetings, including with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He also met with European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni, who said she hoped the trialateral meeting could be a 'new beginning.' In the evening, Meloni spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump and several other European leaders ahead of Trump's expected call with Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Monday, according to a statement from Meloni's office. 'Every Effort'Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a Chicago-born Augustinian missionary who spent the bulk of his ministry in Chiclayo, a commercial city of around 800,000 on Peru's northern Pacific coast. In the days since his May 8 election, Leo has vowed 'every effort' to help bring peace to Ukraine. He also has emphasized his continuity with Pope Francis, who made caring for migrants and the poor a priority of his pontificate. Before his election, Prevost shared news articles on X that were critical of the Trump administration's plans for mass deportations of was one of the last foreign officials to meet with Francis before the Argentine pope's April 21 death. The two had tangled over migration, with Francis publicly rebuking the Trump administration's deportation plan and correcting Vance's theological justification for it.
Chicago Tribune
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
JD Vance gives Pope Leo XIV an invitation from Trump to visit US
ROME — U.S. Vice President JD Vance extended an invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the United States during a meeting at the Vatican on Monday ahead of a flurry of U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to make progress on a ceasefire in Russia's war in Ukraine. Vance gave the first American pope a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump and the first lady inviting him. The Chicago-born pope took the letter and put it on his desk and was heard saying 'at some point,' in the video footage of the meeting provided by Vatican Media. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, also gave the Augustinian pope a copy of two of St. Augustine's most seminal works, 'The City of God' and 'On Christian Doctrine,' the vice president's office said. Another gift: A Chicago Bears T-shirt with Leo's name on it. 'As you can probably imagine, people in the United States are extremely excited about you,' Vance told Leo as they exchanged gifts. Leo gave Vance a bronze sculpture with the words in Italian 'Peace is a fragile flower,' and a coffee-table sized picture book of the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. Leo noted that Francis had chosen not to live in them and added, 'And I may live in, but it's not totally decided.' Vance led the U.S. delegation to Sunday's formal Mass opening the pontificate of the first American pope. Joining him at the meeting on Monday was Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Catholic, Vance spokesperson Luke Schroeder said. The two then also met with the Vatican foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher. 'There was an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved,' according to a Vatican statement after their meeting. The Vatican listed Vance's delegation as the first of several private audiences Leo was having Monday with people who had come to Rome for his inaugural Mass, including other Christian leaders and a group of faithful from his old diocese in Chiclayo, Peru. The Vatican, which was largely sidelined during the first three years of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has offered to host any peace talks while continuing humanitarian efforts to facilitate prisoner swaps and reunite Ukrainian children taken by Russia. After greeting Leo briefly at the end of Sunday's Mass, Vance spent the rest of the day in separate meetings, including with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He also met with European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni, who said she hoped the trialateral meeting could be a 'new beginning.' In the evening, Meloni spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump and several other European leaders ahead of Trump's expected call with Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Monday, according to a statement from Meloni's office. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a Chicago-born Augustinian missionary who spent the bulk of his ministry in Chiclayo, a commercial city of around 800,000 on Peru's northern Pacific coast. In the days since his May 8 election, Leo has vowed 'every effort' to help bring peace to Ukraine. He also has emphasized his continuity with Pope Francis, who made caring for migrants and the poor a priority of his pontificate. Before his election, Prevost shared news articles on X that were critical of the Trump administration's plans for mass deportations of migrants. Vance was one of the last foreign officials to meet with Francis before the Argentine pope's April 21 death. The two had tangled over migration, with Francis publicly rebuking the Trump administration's deportation plan and correcting Vance's theological justification for it.
Al-Ahram Weekly
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Pope Leo XIV and JD Vance meet ahead of US-led diplomatic flurry to reach ceasefire in Ukraine - War in Ukraine
Pope Leo XIV and U.S. Vice President JD Vance met at the Vatican on Monday ahead of a flurry of U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to make progress on a ceasefire in Russia's war in Ukraine. Vance, a Catholic convert, had led the U.S. delegation to the formal Mass opening the pontificate of the first American pope. Joining him at the meeting on Monday was Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Catholic, Vance spokesperson Luke Schroeder said. 'There was an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved,' according to a Vatican statement after their meeting. The Vatican listed Vance's delegation as the first of several private audiences Leo was having Monday with people who had come to Rome for his inaugural Mass, including other Christian leaders and a group of faithful from his old diocese in Chiclayo, Peru. The Vatican, which was largely sidelined during the first three years of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has offered to host any peace talks while continuing humanitarian efforts to facilitate prisoner swaps and reunite Ukrainian children taken by Russia. After greeting Leo briefly at the end of Sunday's Mass, Vance spent the rest of the day in separate meetings, including with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He also met with European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni, who said she hoped the trialateral meeting could be a 'new beginning.' In the evening, Meloni spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump and several other European leaders ahead of Trump's expected call with Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Monday, according to a statement from Meloni's office. 'Every Effort' Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a Chicago-born Augustinian missionary who spent the bulk of his ministry in Chiclayo, a commercial city of around 800,000 on Peru's northern Pacific coast. In the days since his May 8 election, Leo has vowed 'every effort' to help bring peace to Ukraine. He also emphasised his continuity with Pope Francis, who made caring for migrants and the poor a priority of his pontificate. Before his election, Prevost shared news articles on X that were critical of the Trump administration's plans for mass deportations of migrants. Vance was one of the last foreign officials to meet with Francis before the Argentine pope's April 21 death. The two had tangled over migration, with Francis publicly rebuking the Trump administration's deportation plan and correcting Vance's theological justification for it. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
South Wales Guardian
19-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Pope and JD Vance meet ahead of diplomatic push for Ukraine ceasefire
Mr Vance, a Catholic convert, had led the US delegation to the formal Mass opening the pontificate of the first American pope. Joining him at the meeting was US secretary of state Marco Rubio, also a Catholic, Vance spokesperson Luke Schroeder said. For many nations, the image of a mother and child is a symbol of life that must be protected. Today, we presented Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex with a special icon – the Holy Mother with the Infant, painted on a fragment of a crate used to store heavy artillery munitions, brought from… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 18, 2025 According to a Vatican statement after their meeting: 'There was an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved.' The Vatican listed Mr Vance's delegation as the first of several private audiences Leo was having on Monday with people who had come to Rome for his inaugural Mass, including other Christian leaders and a group of faithful from his old diocese in Chiclayo, Peru. The Vatican, which was largely sidelined during the first three years of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has offered to host any peace talks while continuing humanitarian efforts to facilitate prisoner swaps and reunite Ukrainian children taken by Russia. After greeting Leo briefly at the end of Sunday's Mass, Mr Vance spent the rest of the day in separate meetings, including with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He also met with European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni, who said she hoped the tri-lateral meeting could be a 'new beginning'. In the evening, Ms Meloni spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump and several other European leaders ahead of Mr Trump's expected call with Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Monday, according to a statement from Meloni's office. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a Chicago-born Augustinian missionary who spent the bulk of his ministry in Chiclayo, a commercial city of around 800,000 on Peru's northern Pacific coast. This is the hour for love! The heart of the Gospel is the love of God that makes us brothers and sisters. With my predecessor Leo XIII, we can ask ourselves today: If this criterion 'were to prevail in the world, would not every conflict cease and peace return?' (Rerum Novarum) — Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) May 18, 2025 In the days since his May 8 election, Leo has vowed 'every effort' to help bring peace to Ukraine. He also has emphasised his continuity with Pope Francis, who made caring for migrants and the poor a priority of his pontificate. Before his election, then-cardinal Prevost shared news articles on X that were critical of the Trump administration's plans for mass deportations of migrants. Mr Vance was one of the last foreign officials to meet with Francis before the Argentine pope's death on April 21. The two had tangled over migration, with Francis publicly rebuking the Trump administration's deportation plan and correcting Mr Vance's theological justification for it.
