Vatican officials have moved to downplay a recent report detailing a contentious meeting between a senior Vatican diplomat and US defense officials at the Pentagon in January, amid escalating tensions between Pope Leo XIV and former President Donald Trump over Iran policy.
Defense Department and Vatican Offer Conflicting Accounts
The meeting between Cardinal Christophe Pierre, a Vatican diplomat, and Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby has become a focal point of controversy. Earlier this week, The Free Press reported that US officials used the encounter to criticize a speech given by Pope Leo earlier that month, interpreting his remarks as a direct attack on President Trump's policies.
The Defense Department has since dismissed this characterization as "highly exaggerated and distorted." A Defense Department official told The Independent that the meeting was "respectful and reasonable," adding, "We have nothing but the highest regard and welcome continued dialogue with the Holy See."
Vatican Describes 'Tense' But Not Threatening Exchange
However, a Vatican official provided a more nuanced account to The Pillar, a news website covering the Catholic Church. The official acknowledged that the meeting was at times "tense" and "aggressive," but stressed there was "no question of anyone threatening anyone."
The conversation was described as a mutually forthright exchange, with one official noting that Cardinal Pierre was "making himself heard too." A senior Pentagon official echoed this, calling it a "very respectful" and "frank exchange of ideas," stating, "There were somewhat different perspectives, but definitely no hostility or even hint of an attempt at coercion. That's frankly just absurd and a calumny."
Pope Leo's Outspoken Criticism of Trump's Iran Stance
The backdrop to this diplomatic friction is the increasingly public rift between Pope Leo, the first American-born Pontiff, and former President Trump. Leo has emerged as a vocal critic of the conflict with Iran. Earlier this week, after Trump shared a Truth Social post threatening to destroy Iran's civilization, the Pope issued a statement calling his words "truly unacceptable."
On Friday, Leo further warned that "God does not bless any conflict." This statement came just days after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said US strikes in Iran were carried out "under the protection of divine providence," highlighting a stark theological and political divide.
Broader Diplomatic Strains Evident
The reported tensions extend beyond this single meeting. The Free Press also reported that Pope Leo, who is from Chicago, previously rejected an invitation to attend a White House celebration for America's 250th anniversary. A Vatican official told the outlet the Pope "may well never visit the United States under this administration," signaling deep-seated diplomatic strains.
In a related development, Brian Burch, the US ambassador to the Holy See, stated that he spoke with Cardinal Pierre on Thursday. Burch wrote on X that Pierre confirmed recent media characterizations of his meeting with Undersecretary Colby were "fabrications" that were "just invented."
The Independent has contacted the Holy See for further comment on the matter. The conflicting narratives from the Vatican and the Pentagon underscore the sensitive nature of US-Holy See relations during a period of significant geopolitical disagreement over Iran.
