The Latest Breaking News from JD Vance

Pontiff, who is recovering from severe bout of pneumonia, also held short meeting with US vice-president JD Vance

The Vice President of the United States, who converted to Catholicism a few years ago, met the Pope at the Vatican. The pontiff had repeatedly criticised the US' tough anti-immigration policies.

On Saturday, Vice President JD Vance went to the Vatican's Apostolic Palace to meet with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the Foreign Minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.

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The Holy See, which has a tradition of diplomatic neutrality, has expressed alarm over the Trump's administration's crackdown on migrants and cuts in international aid while insisting on peaceful resolutions to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

The Vatican affirmed good relations with the US but noted ‘an exchange of opinions’ on global conflicts and migration.

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Pope Francis is the spiritual leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics who preaches for a more open church and empathy for migrants.

US Vice President JD Vance met with the Vatican's second-highest official on Saturday, in which they discussed the thorny issue of refugees just two months after Pope Francis incurred the wrath of the White House after lambasting the new US administration over its migration policies.