Pope Leo XIV and JD Vance discuss Ukraine ceasefire in meeting

Pope Leo XIV met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican on Monday, May 19, 2025, ahead of a wave of U.S.-led diplomatic efforts aimed at advancing ceasefire negotiations in Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.

The meeting took place one day after the formal Mass inaugurating the papacy of Leo XIV, the first American pope in history.

Vance, a Catholic convert, led the U.S. delegation attending the inauguration.

He was joined in the private meeting by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also Catholic.

According to Vance’s spokesperson, Luke Schroeder, the gathering marked a significant moment of dialogue between the Vatican and the U.S. government.

This is particularly in light of the urgent international crisis in Ukraine.

A statement released by the Vatican following the meeting noted that both parties exchanged views on key global issues.

Emphasis was placed on the need to uphold humanitarian and international law in conflict zones and to seek negotiated solutions to such disputes.

The statement underscored the importance of peaceful dialogue between involved parties, although it did not name any countries specifically.

Vance’s audience with Pope Leo XIV was the first of several the pontiff held that day with guests who had traveled to Rome for his inaugural Mass.

Other visitors included various Christian leaders and a group of faithful from Chiclayo, Peru, where Leo previously served as bishop.

The Vatican, which had played a relatively limited role during the initial three years of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has now signaled a willingness to take a more active position.

It has offered to host peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, while also continuing its humanitarian efforts.

This is particularly in arranging prisoner exchanges and aiding in the reunification of Ukrainian children taken by Russian forces.

After briefly greeting Leo at Sunday’s Mass, Vance held several important diplomatic meetings throughout the day.

These included talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Following the discussions, Meloni expressed hope that the trilateral meeting could represent a “new beginning” for coordinated peace efforts.

Later that evening, Meloni had phone conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump and a number of European leaders, in anticipation of Trump’s scheduled call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

According to a statement from Meloni’s office, the discussions were aimed at aligning international positions ahead of Trump’s outreach to Moscow.

Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, was born in Chicago and served as an Augustinian missionary for much of his life.

His ministry was largely centered in Chiclayo, a northern Peruvian city of approximately 800,000 people located on the Pacific coast.

Since being elected pope on May 8, Leo has committed to doing “every effort” possible to help end the war in Ukraine.

He has also pledged to carry forward the legacy of Pope Francis, particularly in regard to supporting migrants and the poor.

Pope Leo’s social media activity before his election provides insight into his views.

He previously shared critical articles on X (formerly Twitter) about the Trump administration’s immigration policies, particularly plans for mass deportations.

JD Vance had also engaged with the Vatican in recent months.

He was among the final foreign officials to meet Pope Francis before his death on April 21.

Their meeting had its tensions, especially concerning immigration policy.

Pope Francis had publicly condemned the Trump administration’s deportation proposals.

He had also corrected Vance’s theological rationale for supporting them.

This dynamic underscores ongoing challenges in U.S.-Vatican relations, especially regarding migration and humanitarian issues.

Still, Monday’s meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Vice President Vance appears to signal a willingness on both sides to cooperate.

This is particularly in pursuing a diplomatic resolution to the war in Ukraine.

As international actors prepare for a new round of peace talks, Leo’s moral authority and diplomatic role may prove increasingly important.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook