The Trump administration has sought to contain backlash over reports that it pressured the Vatican’s ambassador to Washington in an attempt to align the Holy See more closely with US military policy.
The alleged exchange took place during a meeting at the Pentagon in January, at a time when the Vatican was becoming increasingly uneasy about a series of US military actions. These included threats to take control of Greenland from NATO ally Denmark, missile strikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels, and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, despite diplomatic efforts by the Holy See.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American born pontiff, had openly criticised the growing reliance on military force in international relations, warning diplomats that “war is back in vogue” and that the appetite for conflict was spreading.
Shortly after these remarks, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, then the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States, was invited to the Pentagon for talks with Elbridge Colby, the US under secretary of defence for policy. Colby, whose family has historical ties to Vatican diplomacy during the Cold War, was reportedly seen as a suitable intermediary to convey Washington’s position.
According to geopolitical analyst Francesco Sisci, US officials may have viewed the meeting as an opportunity to deliver what was intended as a “friendly message”, encouraging the Vatican to adopt a more aligned stance with US strategic priorities.
via FT
