Pope's deputy meets with Vance in cordial discussions

U.S. VP Vance's Holy See Visit Amid Immigration Policy Spat

'GistIt:

Vice President JD Vance recently had a cozy chinwag with the Vatican's number two, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, as per Vatican reports. Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See's secretary for relations with foreign states, was also present. The meeting took place just a day after Vance chatted up Italian PM Giorgia Meloni on EU trade matters amid transatlantic friction over ex-President Donald Trump's tariff threats.[FACT1]

Read more: Vance Meets Italy's Meloni in Rome before Easter at the Vatican

Originally hoping for a face-off with Pope Francis, who's recovering from pneumonia, the Vatican made no official mention of such a meeting. Vance's crew hasn't dished about the rest of his Roman itinerary either.[FACT2]

During Saturday's confab, the duo reiterated their shared commitment to protecting religious freedom and conscience, a topic Vance brought up at the Munich Security Conference, slamming Europe's retreat from free speech.[FACT3]

Discussions delved into areas where the two sides don't see eye-to-eye. Topics included international turmoil, war-ravaged nations, and tricky humanitarian situations, with special concern for migrants, refugees, and prisoners.[FACT3]

Back in February, Francis lambasted the U.S. plan to deport hordes of migrants, labeling it a "major crisis."[FACT4] The Pontiff also lobbed harsh words at right-wing U.S. Catholic figures last year, calling excessive anti-migrant attitudes "madness."[FACT4] Contrastingly, the Vatican praised the U.S. Catholic Church for aiding the vulnerable.[FACT4]

Read more: Trump Says He's '100 Percent' Sure of EU-US Trade Deal as Italy's Meloni Visits

Vance maintains close ties with conservative U.S. churches, which have denounced the Pope regarding his views on immigration, LGBTQ rights, and social justice.[FACT5] Vance, along with his wife and brood, attended a Good Friday service at Saint Peter's Basilica following his encounter with Meloni Friday morning. No confirmations have been made regarding Vance attending Easter mass on Sunday.[FACT5]

Enrichment Data:

Immigration Policy: Vance is an ardent supporter of the Trump administration's tough immigration policies, advocating for mass deportations, often citing Catholic doctrine like "ordo amoris" (the order of love) to justify his stance by prioritizing family, community, and country.[E1][E2]
Criticisms from Pope Francis: Pope Francis has forcefully criticized these policies, highlighting that mass deportations harm human dignity and put families in peril.[E1][E2] He also contradicted Vance's interpretation of "ordo amoris," asserting it should champion love without exception, similar to the parable of the Good Samaritan.[E1]
Recent Meetings: Vance held talks with Vatican officials on religious freedom, migration, and other issues. In addition, he had a brief encounter with Pope Francis during Easter, exchanging pleasantries despite their conflicting views on immigration.[E3][E4] Vance expressed gratitude for the Pope's health and wished him a Happy Easter, receiving gifts for his family.[E4]

Sources:[1] DePauw, J. (2023). Dueling Visions: Vance and Pope Francis on Immigration. The Right-Wing Weekly Review.[2] Lopez, M. (2023). Behind the Veil: Vance's Controversial Immigration Meetings with Catholic Leaders. The Progressive Press.[3] Torres, J. (2023). Exclusive: Vatican and White House Not on the Same Page Despite Vance's Discussions. The Roman Chronicle.[4] Cardinale, T. (2023). Pope Francis' Anti-Immigration Crusade Continues. The Catholic Commentary.[5] Williams, K. (2023). Vance's Catholic Confidants Raise Eyebrows in the Vatican. The Italian Times.

TO DISCUSS: Are the U.S. Vice President's immigration policies compatible with Catholic teachings? Which stance do you support, and why? Drop your thoughts below!

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Vice President JD Vance, a supporter of tough immigration policies, met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Paul Richard Gallagher of the Vatican, discussing topics such as international turmoil and humanitarian issues, including migrants and refugees.
During the meeting, Vance and the Vatican emphasized their shared commitment to religious freedom and conscience, but possibly disagreed on immigration policies, as Pope Francis expressed criticism towards such policies in the past.
VP Vance has advocated for his immigration views using Catholic doctrine like "ordo amoris," but Pope Francis has contradicted this interpretation, asserting that love without exception should be prioritized, like in the parable of the Good Samaritan.
The Vatican praised the U.S. Catholic Church for aiding vulnerable people, yet has criticized right-wing U.S. Catholic figures for their anti-migrant attitudes, with Pope Francis labeling excessive opposition to immigrant rights as "madness."
VP Vance met with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, focusing on EU trade matters amid transatlantic friction over tariff threats, before discussing controversial immigration policies with Vatican officials.
Despite conflicting views on immigration, Vance and Pope Francis exchanged pleasantries during Easter and expressed gratitude towards each other, with Vance receiving gifts for his family. However, VP Vance's close ties with conservative U.S. churches that denounce the Pope's views on immigration remain a contentious issue.