US vp JD Vance has met with Pope Francis.
The “fast and personal” assembly occurred on the Pope’s residence, Casa Santa Marta, in Vatican Metropolis, sources instructed Sky Information.
The assembly got here amid tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration over the US president’s crackdown on migrants and cuts to worldwide assist.
No additional particulars have been launched on the assembly between the vp and the Pope, who has been recovering following weeks in hospital with double pneumonia.
Mr Vance, who’s in Rome along with his household, additionally met with the Vatican’s quantity two, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the international minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
The Vatican stated there had been “an trade of opinions” over worldwide conflicts, migrants and prisoners.
In accordance with an announcement, the 2 sides had “cordial talks” and the Vatican expressed satisfaction with the Trump administration’s dedication to defending freedom of faith and conscience.
“There was an trade of opinions on the worldwide state of affairs, particularly relating to international locations affected by battle, political tensions and tough humanitarian conditions, with explicit consideration to migrants, refugees and prisoners,” the assertion stated.
Francis has beforehand known as the Trump administration’s deportation plans a “shame”.
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Mr Vance, who turned Catholic in 2019, has cited medieval-era Catholic instructing to justify the immigration crackdown.
The pope rebutted the theological idea Mr Vance used to defend the crackdown in an uncommon open letter to the USCatholic bishops concerning the Trump administration in February, and known as Mr Trump’s plan a “main disaster” for the US.
“What’s constructed on the premise of pressure, and never on the reality concerning the equal dignity of each human being, begins badly andwill finish badly,” the Pope stated within the letter.
Mr Vance has acknowledged Francis’s criticism however stated he would proceed to defend his views. Throughout an look in late February on the Nationwide Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, he didn’t deal with the difficulty particularly however known as himself a “child Catholic” and acknowledged there have been “issues concerning the religion that I do not know”.
Whereas he had criticised Francis on social media up to now, just lately he has posted prayers for the pontiff’s restoration.
