US Vice President JD Vance hold talks with top Vatican officials on migrants, global conflicts

US Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, is in Rome with his family for the Easter weekend. During the visit, he toured the Sistine Chapel and Rome’s botanical gardens. The centerpiece of his trip was a round of high-level meetings at the Vatican on Saturday (April 19).

Vance held talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State and second-in-command, as well as with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States.

According to a statement from the Vatican, the talks were described as “cordial,” but included “an exchange of opinions” on several sensitive topics such as international conflicts, migration, and prisoners.

“Particular attention was paid to migrants, refugees, and prisoners,” the Vatican noted, in what appears to reflect ongoing concerns about the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies and cuts to global aid.

In a separate statement, Vance’s office highlighted the spiritual dimension of the meeting, alongside political themes.

“The Vice President and Cardinal Parolin discussed their shared religious faith, Catholicism in the United States, the plight of persecuted Christian communities around the world, and President Trump’s commitment to restoring world peace,” the statement said.

Vatican's balancing act

The Holy See has maintained a cautious tone in its dealings with the Trump administration, emphasising its tradition of neutrality while also voicing unease over certain US policies. It has urged peaceful solutions to ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and has expressed concern about the treatment of migrants and reductions in humanitarian aid.

The visit underscores the delicate relationship between the Vatican and Washington, particularly as global crises and immigration debates continue to shape international diplomacy.