Ololade Adeyanju/
Officials in the administration of President Donald Trump have denied reports that the United States sought to pressure the Vatican or threaten the authority of Pope Leo XIV, amid a widening rift over American military policy and the Pope’s outspoken criticism of war.
The denial follows claims, first reported by The Free Press, that a senior Pentagon official summoned the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States, Christophe Pierre, to a meeting in January where American military power was allegedly invoked in stark terms.
The report suggested that the Pope was urged to align more closely with Washington’s geopolitical stance.
However, US officials have rejected that characterisation. A spokesperson for the Department of Defense said the engagement was “respectful and reasonable,” adding that portrayals of a “bitter lecture” were “highly exaggerated and distorted”.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of growing unease within the Vatican over US foreign policy, particularly its military posture in the Middle East.
According to reporting by the Financial Times, Pope Leo has become increasingly concerned that diplomacy based on dialogue is being replaced by a more force-driven approach in global affairs.
In his January “State of the World” address, the Pope warned against what he described as a shift away from consensus-building diplomacy.
“A diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force,” he said, in remarks widely interpreted as a veiled critique of Washington’s strategic doctrine.
The tension has deepened in recent months as the Pope intensified his moral opposition to war. Without directly naming President Trump, he has repeatedly condemned escalating rhetoric and military threats, particularly in relation to Iran.
“Jesus is the King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” Pope Leo said in a recent address. “He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.”
The Holy See’s unease has also been reflected in diplomatic decisions. Despite an invitation from the White House to attend celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary, the Pope declined to travel to the United States, citing a mix of policy disagreements and concern about being drawn into domestic political dynamics.
Instead, he is expected to spend the period in Lampedusa, a symbolic location associated with migrant arrivals into Europe, reinforcing his longstanding advocacy for humanitarian and refugee issues.
Within the Vatican, officials have privately expressed concern about what they see as an increasingly confrontational tone in US foreign policy.
One official familiar with internal deliberations suggested the Pope may avoid visiting the United States for the foreseeable future under the current administration.
At the centre of the earlier controversy is Elbridge Colby, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, who was reported to have convened the meeting with Cardinal Pierre.
While the Pentagon confirmed that discussions took place, it insisted they were part of routine diplomatic engagement and denied any attempt to pressure the Vatican.
The evolving dispute highlights a rare and delicate strain in relations between Washington and the Holy See, traditionally aligned on a range of global issues but occasionally divided over war, migration, and the moral limits of state power.
Analysts say the disagreement underscores a broader ideological divide.
“What we are seeing is not just a diplomatic disagreement, but a clash between moral authority and geopolitical strategy,” one Rome-based observer noted.
As conflicts in the Middle East continue to shape global politics, the Vatican’s emphasis on peace and humanitarian concerns appears increasingly at odds with Washington’s security-driven approach, raising questions about how the relationship will evolve in the run-up to key international developments.
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