According to new reporting, members of the Trump administration summoned the Vatican’s U.S. ambassador, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, to the Pentagon and proceeded to threaten him. Reportedly, the Vatican was so alarmed by the Pentagon’s threats that Pope Leo XIV shelved plans to visit the United States later this year.
Instead, the Pope will visit Lampedusa, a small Mediterranean island, and meet with African migrants attempting to reach Europe for a better life.
During the meeting, U.S. officials told the Cardinal that “America has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side.” The U.S. officials proceeded to reference the 14th-century Avignon Papacy, which Vatican officials viewed as a threat to use military force against the Holy See.
A Vatican official speaking to The Free Press described the meeting as a “bitter lecture,” and said the Pope has no plans to visit the U.S. while Trump is in office.
When JD Vance was asked about the situation, he responded and said he didn’t know who Cardinal Christophe Pierre was. The Pope has called Trump’s Iran War “unjust,” and we can’t agree more.
Jo and BDD discuss this and more, right here on The Siren Network.
