Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, is scheduled to meet U.S. Vice President JD Vance during the inaugural mass marking the new pope’s installation on Sunday.
Vance, a converted Catholic, will lead the American delegation at the event, which is expected to draw representatives from over 200 countries.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin confirmed the plans on Friday, noting the complexity involved in coordinating the mass and the many international dignitaries attending.
Despite these challenges, the Vatican’s protocol team is actively working to finalize the details of the meeting between the pope and Vice President Vance.
This visit marks a swift return to Rome for Vance, who was among the last senior foreign officials to meet the late Pope Francis shortly before his passing. U.S. President Donald Trump attended Pope Francis’ funeral earlier this year.
Discussions during the anticipated private meeting between Pope Leo and Vice President Vance are expected to focus on pressing global issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
With recent attempts at direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey failing, the Vatican is being considered as a potential neutral site for future negotiations.
Cardinal Parolin described the current international situation as “very difficult, dramatic” and revealed that Pope Leo has expressed willingness to offer the Vatican as a venue for dialogue between the conflicting parties. The new pontiff has previously indicated his desire to play a role in promoting peace amid the ongoing crisis