Vice President Vance Meets Pope Leo XIV, Invites Him to White House

ROME — U.S. Vice President JD Vance met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on May 19, 2025, presenting him with a Chicago Bears jersey as part of an effort to promote better relations between the U.S. administration and the Vatican.

The private meeting came shortly after Pope Leo’s inauguration, where the Chicago-born pontiff urged for peace and humanitarian respect in conflict zones. The Vice President’s invitation for the Pope to visit the White House was delivered in a letter from President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed.

During the audience, held in the Apostolic Palace, Vance and Pope Leo discussed several pressing international issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, where the Pope has called for a “just and lasting peace.” Vance, a Catholic, also voiced hope for cooperation between the U.S. and the Vatican on humanitarian issues.

Pope Leo took the invitation letter and was recorded saying “at some point,” signaling a possible future visit, though the Vatican has not confirmed any plans. In addition to the jersey, Vance gifted the pontiff two works by Saint Augustine, highlighting the importance of theological discourse.

The Vatican readout following the meeting noted that discussions were cordial, with an emphasis on mutual respect for humanitarian law and support for peaceful negotiations among conflicting parties.

Vance’s meeting with Pope Leo follows his brief encounter with the late Pope Francis just before Francis’s death on April 21. The Vatican has expressed its desire to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, though its previous statements have drawn criticism from both sides of the conflict.

Pope Leo XIV, who previously served as Cardinal Robert Prevost, has raised concerns about migration policies, which may potentially influence his diplomatic stance with the U.S. administration.