Pope Francis received for a few minutes at a private audience, and therefore without cameras or journalists, to the vice president of the United States, James David Vance, in the Santa Marta house, his residence in the Vatican.
As reported by the press room of the Holy See, the brief meeting took place “shortly after 11:30” and served mainly for both leaders to exchange “their congratulations on the celebration of Easter.”
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The appointment with the Pontiff, which is still convalescent of bilateral pneumonia, joined the bilateral encounter held yesterday, April 19, between JD Vance and the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
At that meeting in the Vatican, they addressed the “difficult humanitarian situations” of the world “with special attention to emigrants, refugees and prisoners”, while renewing their commitment to the protection of “religious freedom.”
During Vance’s official visit to the Vatican – in which in addition to Cardinal Parolin there was the secretary for relations with international states and organizations, Mons. Paul Richard Gallagher – “there was an exchange of opinions on the international situation,” according to the Vatican press office in a statement.
Specifically, during the conversation, particular attention was paid to the countries affected by armed conflicts, “political tensions and humanitarian crises” and other issues such as the situation “of migrants, refugees and prisoners” were addressed in parallel, as well as other issues of common interest, the Vatican said.
The American vice president, who became Catholicism in 2019, He participated The Good Friday in Rite of the Lord’s Passion in the Basilica of San Pedro del Vaticano, which was officiated by the prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti. The president sat in the front row against the altar, where the liturgy of the word was officiated, and was accompanied by his wife Usha and his three children.
After the official visit to Italy, Vance will continue the trip to India.
Victoria Cardiel
Victoria Cardiel is a journalist specialized in social and religious information issues. Since 2013, he has covered all the news of the Vatican for various media, such as the Spanish news agency Europa Press, or the weekly of the Archdiocese of Madrid, Alfa and Omega.