The U.S. Department of Defense has denied reports of a confrontational meeting between Pentagon officials and a Vatican envoy in January, calling the claims "highly exaggerated and distorted." The meeting, which involved Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican’s apostolic nuncio to the United States, was reportedly tense, with some sources alleging that Colby warned the Vatican to align with U.S. military tactics. The Pentagon described the meeting as "a respectful and reasonable discussion."
The reports emerged after Pope Leo XIV criticized U.S. military actions in Iran during his State of the World speech in January. A Vatican official told The Free Press that the meeting was "unprecedented" and that the pope may never visit the U.S. under the current administration. The Vatican also canceled a planned July 4 trip to the U.S.
Vice President JD Vance said he would look into the reports, stating that he would speak with both Cardinal Pierre and U.S. officials to determine what happened. The White House downplayed the controversy, emphasizing that President Trump has a "positive relationship" with the Vatican.
The reference to the Avignon Papacy, a period when the papacy was relocated to France due to political tensions, has been interpreted by some as a veiled threat. However, the Pentagon has not confirmed this interpretation.
The Free Press initially reported that Colby told the Vatican that the U.S. "has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world" and that the Catholic Church "had better take its side." The Pentagon has denied these specific claims, stating that the meeting was respectful and that the U.S. has the "highest regard" for the Holy See.
The Vatican has not publicly commented on the reports, but a source close to Pope Leo XIV described the meeting as "most unpleasant and confrontational."
The controversy has raised questions about the relationship between the U.S. and the Vatican, particularly in light of the pope’s criticism of U.S. military actions. The Pentagon’s denial and the White House’s downplaying of the incident suggest that the administration is seeking to minimize the diplomatic fallout.