US VP Vance, Secretary of State Rubio meet Pope Leo in inaugural Mass, ahead of Trump's push for Russia-Ukraine resolution

Newly-inducted Pope XIV met US Vice President J.D. Vance at the Vatican on Sunday (local time), ahead of President Trump's initiative to phone Russia's Vladimir Putin, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO officials on Monday. This initiative is America's latest attempt to foster peace between the two nations that have been in a state of conflict since February 2022. 

Pictures released by the Vatican's official portal show the 267th leader of the Catholic Church with J.D. Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as their wives, Usha and Jeanette, respectively.

The American leaders were a part of a 200,000-strong set of dignitaries, royals and others gathered for the Catholic-born Pope’s Mass of Inauguration of his Petrine Ministry at St. Peter’s Square. 

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Vance's private visit to the Pope was followed by a “cordial” visit to Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations at the Vatican.

The two were said to have discussed bilateral relations and collaborations, as well as several matters “of special relevance to ecclesial life and religious freedom”, as per a report from the Holy See Press Office.

“Finally, there was an exchange of views on some current international issues, during which hope was expressed that humanitarian law and international law be respected in areas of conflict and that there be a negotiated solution between the parties involved,” noted the Holy See Press Office.

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Vance later met other high-profile guests at the inaugural Mass, such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni, an Associated Press report said.

In the days since his induction into the papacy on May 8, Pope Leo has vowed “every effort” to help bring peace to Ukraine, with social justice and peace occupying top spots in his pontificate.

World