Pope Leo XIV meets JD Vance, Rubio ahead of Ukraine ceasefire push

Pope Leo XIV received U.S. Vice President, JD Vance and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio at the Vatican on Monday.

The visit comes ahead of renewed U.S. efforts to help end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The Vatican shared images of the meeting, showing Vance and Rubio smiling with the Chicago-born pope.

Leo XIV was elected on May 8 to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

Sunday marked the official start of his papacy, with an inauguration mass in St. Peter’s Square.

Over 200,000 dignitaries, royals, and worshippers attended the ceremony.

Leo, 69, has emphasized peace as the focus of his early leadership.

He was expected to speak with Vance and Rubio about the U.S. role in ending the conflict in Ukraine.

President Donald Trump is also scheduled to call Russian President Vladimir Putin later Monday as part of peace efforts.

Vance held a separate meeting with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States.

The talks were described as “cordial.”

Both sides expressed “satisfaction at the good bilateral relations.”

They also exchanged “views on some current international issues,” the Vatican said.

This included calls for “respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict.”

The Vatican said both sides urged “a negotiated solution between the parties involved.”

The Vatican hosted several high-level diplomatic meetings during the pope’s inauguration.

World leaders also discussed the ongoing war in Gaza.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the mass and had a private audience with Pope Leo.

He later met with Vance and Rubio.

According to the vice president’s office, they discussed “their shared goal of ending the bloodshed in Ukraine.”

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Last week, Pope Leo expressed his desire to personally help mediate global conflicts.

“I will make every effort so that this peace may prevail,” he said.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, said Leo “may offer the Vatican for a direct meeting between the two parties.”

Vance’s audience with the pope lasted 45 minutes, according to his spokesperson.

Before becoming pope, Leo had reposted criticism of Trump’s immigration policies on his X account.

He had also criticized Vance.

Despite this, Vance said Sunday, “The United States is very proud of him.”

“Our prayers go with him as he starts this very important work,” he added.

Vance converted to Catholicism in 2019.

Rubio is also Catholic.

Vance and Gallagher also discussed “collaboration between Church and State.”

They touched on “matters of special relevance to ecclesial life and religious freedom,” the Vatican said.

Pope Leo now faces major challenges, including divisions over Pope Francis’s reforms.

He must also address the growing decline in church attendance, especially in the West.

(AFP)

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