In a significant convergence of faith and diplomacy, Pope Leo XIV and U.S. Vice President JD Vance met Monday at the Vatican, just hours before a renewed American-led push to end the war in Ukraine gathers momentum.
The meeting came a day after the formal Mass inaugurating the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV—the first American pope in history.
Vice President Vance, a Catholic convert who led the U.S. delegation to the ceremony, used the moment to initiate what officials describe as a “diplomatic opening” to involve the Vatican more directly in efforts to secure a ceasefire in Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
During the private audience, Vance presented the pope with a personal letter from U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, inviting Leo to visit the United States.
In video footage shared by Vatican Media, the Chicago-born pope took the letter, placed it on his desk, and responded with a gentle smile: “At some point.”
Vance also gifted the pontiff two classic works by St. Augustine—The City of God and On Christian Doctrine—reflecting both Leo’s Augustinian roots and Vance’s personal journey to Catholicism, which began with his own conversion in 2019. A more lighthearted gift followed: a Chicago Bears T-shirt emblazoned with the pope’s name. “As you can probably imagine, people in the United States are extremely excited about you,” Vance remarked as they exchanged gifts.
In return, Pope Leo offered Vance a bronze sculpture inscribed with the words “Peace is a fragile flower” and a coffee-table photo book of the Apostolic Palace. Gesturing to the papal apartments, he added with a chuckle: “I may live in them, but it’s not totally decided.” His predecessor, Pope Francis, famously chose simpler lodgings.
Joining Vance was U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Catholic. According to Vatican officials, their talks covered key international flashpoints, with both sides emphasizing “respect for humanitarian and international law in conflict zones” and the need for a “negotiated solution” in Ukraine.
The Vatican, while largely sidelined during the early years of Russia’s 2022 invasion, has since offered to host peace talks and continues its behind-the-scenes humanitarian work—particularly in facilitating prisoner exchanges and reuniting Ukrainian children deported to Russia.
Following the papal meeting, Vance held a series of separate high-level discussions. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The trilateral discussions, Meloni said, aimed to mark “a new beginning” in coordinated Western efforts toward peace.
