Vatican officials expressed concern about the repression of the Trump administration against migrants duration of meetings with vice president JD Vance in the Apostolic Palace on Saturday in Rome.
Vance, a Catholic convert since 2019, with the Secretary of the State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, said the White House.
Vance’s office said he and Parolin “discussed his shared religious faith, Catholicism in the United States, the difficult situation of the Christian communities pursued worldwide and the commitment of President Trump to restore world peace.”
The Vatican said there was “an exchange of opinions” about international conflicts, humanitarian crises and the treatment of migrants and prisoners, and expresses hope of “serene collaboration” with the United States Church.
The meeting took place two months after Pope Francis, 88, rebuked the administration deportation agenda and warned that they would deprive migrants of their dignity. While Vance did not meet with the Pope, who is recovering from pneumonia, the papal position on immigration hung on the visit.
Parolin told the Italian media before the meeting that President Donald Trump’s approach was “very different from what we are used to” and described that the changing political landscape of the West was disturbing.
“The Holy See always strives to place the human person in the center, and many vulnerable people suffer huge, for example, due to the cuts in humanitarian aid,” Parolin added.
The immigration division between Rome and Washington has only been deepened since January, when Vance told CBS News that the US Catholic Bishops Conference. UU. “It has not been a good partner in the application of common sense immigration.”
Vance, 40, accused the bishops at the time of being motivated by the money of the federal subsidy to reassure the “illegal immigrants”, saying: “Are they worried about humanitarian groups? Or are they really worried about their results?”
The Bishop Conference delayed, saying that federal funds do not cover the costs of their work and defend their humanitarian mission.
Vance has defended the administration application policies citing Ordo AmorisA concept of medieval theology that first prioritizes the attention of family and community itself. Pope Francis directly refuted that logic in a letter on February 10, writing that Christian Love “builds an open fraternity to all, without exception.”
The trip included some lighter moments. After presenting his family to Parolin, Vance and his children received a private tour of the Sistine Chapel.
Later, the family was seen in the Botanical Garden of Rome, where a toy gladiator suit takes from their children
Vance and his family attended the services of Good Friday in the Basilica of San Pedro the day before. On Sunday, his family is scheduled to attend the Easter Mass in the Plaza de San Pedro.
With publication cables
