Pentagon Refutes Claims of Vatican Confrontation Over Pope's Criticism of US Military Actions
Pentagon denies threatening Vatican over pope's remarks on US intervention in Iran
Euronews
Image: Euronews
The Pentagon has denied reports that Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican's US envoy, was reprimanded over Pope Leo XIV's comments criticizing US military actions in Iran. The Pentagon described the meeting as respectful, while the Pope has consistently condemned military diplomacy and called for peace.
- 01The Pentagon denied reports of a confrontational meeting with the Vatican over Pope Leo XIV's remarks.
- 02Pope Leo XIV has criticized US military actions in Iran, labeling them as 'illegal and immoral.'
- 03The Vatican's envoy described the January meeting with US officials as cordial and normal.
- 04US Vice President JD Vance expressed a desire to clarify the details of the meeting.
- 05The Pope's criticism has led to discussions about a planned papal visit to the US being postponed.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The Pentagon has refuted claims that Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican's envoy to the US, was summoned for a 'bitter' reprimand regarding remarks made by Pope Leo XIV about US military interventions, particularly in Iran. According to reports from The Free Press, US Undersecretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby allegedly warned Pierre that the US military could act unilaterally and that the Church should align with it. However, the Pentagon characterized the meeting as 'respectful and reasonable,' focusing on various global issues. Pope Leo XIV has been vocal against military diplomacy, calling for peace and denouncing the Trump administration's actions in Iran as 'illegal and immoral.' Following these criticisms, there are reports that the Vatican has postponed a planned papal visit to the US in 2026 due to disagreements over foreign policy. The Pope's remarks have also prompted calls for US citizens to advocate for peace rather than war.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The Pope's criticism of US military policy may influence public opinion and political discourse in the US, particularly among Catholic communities.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you believe the Vatican should publicly criticize US military actions?
Connecting to poll...
More about Pentagon
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.