Pentagon told Pope's top diplomat to 'take its side' on US military ambitions: report
The Pentagon has said reports of a meeting between senior Department of Defence officials and the Vatican's representative in the US are "highly exaggerated and distorted".
The Free Press reports the Pentagon summoned Cardinal Christophe Pierre for a meeting with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby.
At the January meeting, Pentagon officials reportedly criticised a speech made by Pope Leo XIV and told the cardinal the Vatican needed to get on board.
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Cardinal Christophe Pierre is a now-retired senior Catholic cleric. AP
"America has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world," Colby was quoted as saying.
"The Catholic Church had better take its side."
One Pentagon official reportedly raised the Avignon Papacy, a period in the Middle Ages where the papacy was controlled by the King of France backed by his military power.
The Vatican was so alarmed by how the cardinal was treated that the Pope cancelled a planned visit to the United States.
The Pentagon confirmed the meeting took place but said the reports were "distorted".
"The meeting between Pentagon and Vatican officials was a respectful and reasonable discussion," the spokesperson said.
"We have nothing but the highest regard and welcome continued dialogue with the Holy See."
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The Pentagon summoned the Vatican's top diplomat for a meeting. AP
Regardless of the nature of the meeting, the US government summoning a Vatican official to the Pentagon was unprecedented.
At the time, Pierre was the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, the chief diplomat for the Vatican to Washington DC.
He has since retired.
Vice President JD Vance, who has just written a book about his conversion to Catholicism, said he did not know who Pierre was.
When prompted, he recalled that he had met the cardinal.
"Sorry. I just didn't remember the name," Vance said.
"I'd like to actually talk to Cardinal Christoph Pierre and, frankly, to our people to figure out what actually happened."
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Vice President JD Vance meeting with Pope Francis hours before the pontiff's death. AP
Vance said he did not want to comment further.
"I think it's always a bad idea to offer an opinion on stories that are unconfirmed and uncorroborated, so I'm not going to do that," he said.
Yesterday Pope Leo was highly critical of Donald Trump's comments against Iran.
"Today as we all know there was this threat against all the people of Iran," the Pope said.
"This is truly unacceptable."
Pope Leo, who grew up in Chicago, has been unusually vocal in his opposition to the war in Iran.
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Pope Leo XIV is the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. AP
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