Vance Meets Pope Leo XIV at Vatican on Day After Inaugural Mass

Vice President JD Vance met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on May 19, 2025, the day after the new pope's inaugural Mass. The audience covered Ukraine peace prospects, Middle East humanitarian conditions, and migration policy—areas where the Holy See has sought mediation roles. Pope Leo XIV's American origins gave the meeting additional bilateral significance; his election was the first time a U.S. citizen held the papacy.