Vatican Officials Try To Downplay Report Of Meeting That Sparked Reported Feud Between Pope Leo And Trump

A Vatican charismatic appears to person downplayed a caller study describing a contentious gathering betwixt U.S. defense officials and Cardinal Christophe Pierre.

Pierre, a Vatican diplomat, met with Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby astatine nan Pentagon successful January. Earlier this week, The Free Press reported that U.S. officials utilized nan gathering to knock a reside Pope Leo XIV gave earlier that month, and were interpreting his remarks arsenic attacking President Donald Trump's policies.

The Defense Department has since called nan outlet’s characterization “highly exaggerated and distorted.”

Now, a Vatican charismatic has said nan gathering was astatine times “tense” and “aggressive,” but location was “no mobility of anyone threatening anyone,” according to The Pillar, a news website that reports connected nan Catholic Church.

The speech was besides described arsenic mutually forthright, pinch 1 charismatic noting that Pierre was “making himself heard too,” The Pillar reported.

Leo, nan first American-born Pontiff, has emerged arsenic an outspoken professional of nan conflict pinch Iran.

After Trump shared a Truth Social station threatening to destruct Iran's civilization earlier this week, Leo issued a connection calling his words "truly unacceptable."

The pope besides shared a statement Friday informing that “God does not bless immoderate conflict.” This comes conscionable days aft Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. strikes successful Iran were carried retired “under nan protection of divine providence.”

The Free Press also reported that Leo, who is from Chicago, antecedently rejected an invitation to be a White House ceremony for America’s 250th anniversary. A Vatican charismatic told nan outlet he “may good ne'er sojourn nan United States nether this administration.”

When reached for comment, a Defense Department charismatic called nan January gathering “respectful and reasonable.”

“The gathering betwixt Pentagon and Vatican officials was a respectful and reasonable discussion. We person thing but nan highest respect and invited continued speech pinch nan Holy See," nan charismatic told The Independent.

A elder Pentagon charismatic described nan gathering arsenic “very respectful” and a “frank speech of ideas,” according to The Pillar.

“There were somewhat different perspectives, but decidedly nary hostility aliases moreover hint of an effort astatine coercion. That’s frankly conscionable absurd and a calumny,” nan charismatic said.

Brian Burch, nan U.S. ambassador to nan Holy See, besides said he and Pierre said Thursday.

“As expected, he confirmed that caller media characterizations of his gathering pinch Undersecretary Colby are ‘fabrications’ that were ‘just invented,’” Burch wrote connected X.

The Independent has contacted nan Holy See for comment.