Pope Leo XIV has hinted that he may not return to the United States while President Donald Trump remains in office, as per reports about a controversial meeting between the Pentagon and a Catholic official. Before this, the American-born Pope has been critical of Trump’s policies, especially regarding immigrants and the war with Iran.
Pope Leo reportedly won’t visit US
Recent reports have confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will spend July 4th visiting with African migrants instead of attending the 250th anniversary celebrations in the U.S. This comes after a diplomatic fallout between the Pentagon and a Catholic official.
Per The Free Press, the Department of Defense invited Cardinal Christophe Pierre for a meeting after the Pope’s annual address to the Vatican’s diplomatic corps in January. In it, he criticized states seeking out conflict around the globe. Reports state that Pierre was serving as Pope Leo’s personal envoy to the United States.
According to Vatican and U.S. officials, the Pentagon criticized the Pope’s statements in January, interpreting them as an attack on Donald Trump’s policies.
After the meeting, the Pope reportedly refused Trump’s invitation to attend the nation’s 250th anniversary events. Instead, he will be visiting Lampedusa, a small Mediterranean island, which has turned into an entry point for African immigrants into Europe. A Vatican official has further asserted that the Pope does not have any plans to visit the US when Donald Trump is still in office. “The Pope may well never visit the United States under this administration,” the official said, per reports.
Meanwhile, a War Department official gave a statement to The Independent, criticizing The Free Press’s take on the meeting. They are calling it “highly exaggerated and distorted.”
“The meeting between Pentagon and Vatican officials was a respectful and reasonable discussion. We have nothing but the highest regard and welcome continued dialogue with the Holy See,” the official added in the statement.
On Easter Sunday, the Pope called for global peace.
