The Pope Leo XIV received this Monday at the Vatican to the vice president of the United States, JD Vanceat a meeting focused on promoting solutions negotiated in conflict areas. Although the Ukraine War was not explicitly mentioned, the context of recent days and the recent visit of President Volodimir Zelenski to the Pontiff mark a clear background.
How was the meeting?
During the audience, which lasted approximately 45 minutes, Leo XIV and Vance They dialogue on international current issues And they agreed on the need for Respect humanitarian law and international law. In a statement, the Holy See said that both leaders expressed their desire that “a negotiated solution between the parties involved is achieved“
This diplomatic gesture arrives just after the Pope, born in the United States and with dual Peruvian nationalitypublicly offered the Holy See as a neutral headquarters for an eventual negotiating table between kyiv and Moscowin search of an exit to the prolonged conflict in Ukraine.
Vice President Vance, accompanied by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both Catholics, came to the meeting with their wives. As a sample of cordiality, Vance presented the Pontiff with a T -shirt of the American Football team Chicago Bears.
Beyond international issues, the meeting also reaffirmed the “Good bilateral relations” between the Vatican and the United Statesunderlining the collaboration between Church and State, as well as the Defense of religious freedom.
Vance continued his diplomatic agenda with an encounter with the Vatican secretary for relations with states, Richard Gallagher. For its part, Marco Rubio had already met previously with the cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican.
So much Vance as Zelenski They participated on Sunday at the Pontificate of Leo XIV Mass. Subsequently, the Ukrainian president also met with the American vice president at the US embassy in Rome.
Bilateral meetings occur at a key moment, since the representatives of Ukraine and Russia resumed in Istanbul the First direct contacts since 2022reviving the hopes of a possible diplomatic route towards the high fire.
