The Vatican affirmed good relations with the United States, but pointed out “an exchange of opinions” about global conflicts and migration.
The United States Vice President JD Vance has with the main diplomats of the Vatican, discussing the political issue of migration months after Pope Francis rebuked the hard line immigration position of the new US administration.
Vance, a Catholic convert, said what the Vatican described as “cordial conversations” with the Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the second highest official of the Holy See after the Pope, and Paul Richard Gallagher, the secretary of relations with the states.
“There was an exchange of opinions about the international situation, especially with respect to countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with special attention to migrants, refugees and prisoners,” said the Vatican in a statement.
The two parties also emphasized “the common commitment to protect the right to freedom of religion and conscience,” said the Vatican.
In February, Pope Francis angered the White House after writing a letter to the bishops in which he condemned Trump’s plan to deport migrants and mass, describing it as an “important crisis.”
Trump’s border tsar told Francis that “he adheres to religion.
Vance had his leg hoping to meet with Francis, 88, who is recovering after fighting potentially deadly pneumonia and spending almost 40 days in the hospital.
The Vatican did not mention any meeting of this type with the Pontiff, who has resumed some official duties, and Vance’s entourage has not commented on the reminder of his program in Rome.
Last year, Francis also made a strange incursion in the electoral season of the United States to call the harsh antimigrant attitudes “madness” and criticize Catholic figures on the right because of excessive conservative positions.
But after Saturday’s meeting, the Vatican recognized the “valuable service of the Catholic Church of the United States to the most vulnerable people.”