JD Vance Gives Pope Leo XIV Invitation from Trump to Visit US/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Vice President JD Vance delivered a formal invitation from President Trump to Pope Leo XIV, inviting the first American pope to visit the United States. During a meeting at the Vatican, Vance also gifted the pope Augustinian texts and a Chicago Bears T-shirt, highlighting their shared ties to Chicago and faith. The meeting took place amid U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to encourage peace in Ukraine.
Trump’s Vatican Invitation: Quick Looks
- JD Vance presents Trump’s letter inviting Pope Leo XIV to visit the U.S.
- Meeting held Monday at Vatican during papal inaugural week.
- Pope Leo replied “at some point,” upon receiving the invitation.
- Vance gifted Augustinian texts and a custom Chicago Bears shirt.
- Pope gave Vance a sculpture and book on papal apartments.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined Vance for follow-up talks.
- Vatican and U.S. discussed Ukraine war, humanitarian law, peace negotiations.
- Pope continues Francis’ legacy, with a focus on diplomacy and unity.
- Vatican offers to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks.
- Pope Leo may live in Apostolic Palace, decision pending.
JD Vance Gives Pope Leo XIV Invitation from Trump to Visit US
Deep Look
JD Vance Delivers Trump’s Invitation for Pope Leo XIV to Visit United States During Vatican Talks
VATICAN CITY — In a highly symbolic meeting at the Vatican on Monday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance formally delivered a personal letter from President Donald Trump inviting Pope Leo XIV to visit the United States.
The meeting marked a significant diplomatic moment during Pope Leo’s first full week as pontiff, as the Chicago-born pope navigates global expectations, calls for peace, and the start of a historic American-led papacy.
Captured on Vatican video footage, Pope Leo was seen receiving the letter and placing it on his desk, replying, “at some point,” — a polite but noncommittal nod to the possibility of a future U.S. visit.
Shared American Roots and Symbolic Gifts
The meeting was both diplomatic and personal. Vance, himself a Catholic convert and a vocal conservative, presented Pope Leo — a former Augustinian missionary in Peru — with a copy of St. Augustine’s “City of God” and “On Christian Doctrine,” reflecting the theological tradition they share.
He also gifted the pontiff a Chicago Bears T-shirt personalized with “Leo” — a nod to the pope’s roots in the Windy City.
“As you can probably imagine, people in the United States are extremely excited about you,” Vance told the pope during their warm exchange.
Leo responded in kind, presenting Vance with a bronze sculpture bearing the inscription “Peace is a fragile flower” and a coffee-table book featuring the papal apartments. Leo noted that while Pope Francis chose not to live in the Apostolic Palace, “I may live in, but it’s not totally decided,” hinting at his ongoing discernment about how he will approach the papacy logistically and symbolically.
Rubio Joins for Broader Talks
Following the private audience, Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a practicing Catholic, met with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister. According to an official Vatican communique, the conversation included discussion on international conflicts, humanitarian law, and efforts to foster negotiated solutions — with a specific focus on Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Vatican officials listed Vance’s delegation as the first of several official meetings Pope Leo conducted Monday with various dignitaries and faith leaders, many of whom had attended Sunday’s inaugural Mass that officially began the new papacy.
Pope Leo and the Peace Effort
Leo, born Robert Prevost in Chicago and elevated to pope on May 8, has vowed to make “every effort” to support peace in Ukraine. His early outreach mirrors the diplomatic style of Pope Francis, under whom he served, while signaling a return to tradition and formality appreciated by many conservative Catholics.
Despite being largely sidelined during the early years of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Vatican has offered to host future peace talks and continues working on prisoner exchanges and efforts to reunite abducted Ukrainian children with their families.
After briefly greeting Pope Leo at Sunday’s Mass, Vance spent the remainder of the day holding high-level meetings in Rome, including talks with:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
Meloni later held a trilateral phone call with Trump and European leaders, setting the stage for Trump’s planned phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin the next day.
Past Papal Tensions and a New Chapter
Though cordial, the Vatican’s relationship with Trump and his allies has historically been tense. Pope Francis often clashed with Trump-era policies, particularly over immigration and mass deportation plans. Pope Leo himself previously shared social media articles critical of those immigration stances, underscoring his alignment with Francis’ legacy on humanitarian concerns.
Notably, Vance was one of the final foreign leaders to visit Pope Francis before his April 21 death. Their final interactions were reportedly strained, especially as Francis publicly criticized U.S. border policies and rebuked Vance’s theological defenses of mass deportations.
Leo’s leadership, however, appears poised to balance tradition and diplomacy, navigating sensitive global issues with calm, formality, and openness.
