Is the Vatican under pressure from the United States? The Pentagon denies reprimanding the ambassador of the Holy See

According to an independent media outlet, officials from the American defense apparatus urged the headquarters of the Catholic Church to align with the military power of the United States.

Pete Hegseth on April 8, 2026, in Washington DC (Image Source: GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / ANDREW HARNIK)

The Trump administration was accused of having a grudge against the Pope. On Thursday, April 9th, the Pentagon denied reports that they had summoned a high-ranking Vatican official in January to demand the Church’s support for American military power. This incident comes at a time when Pope Leon XIV, the first American pope in history, has a complex relationship with the Donald Trump administration. He has voiced opposition to the war in Iran and rejected the prayers “of those who wage war.” The meeting at the Pentagon on January 22, before the war in Iran, involved Undersecretary of War Elbridge Colby and the French cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio in Washington.

As reported by the independent media outlet The Free Press, citing anonymous Vatican officials, the meeting quickly turned sour, with Pentagon officials insisting on lecturing about the military power of the United States and suggesting that “the Church had better side with them.”

Pentagon Ensures a “Respectful and Constructive Exchange”

In response, the Defense Department, renamed the Ministry of War under the Trump administration, stated on X that recent accounts of the meeting were greatly exaggerated and distorted. They described the encounter between Pentagon and Vatican officials as a respectful and constructive exchange. Various topics were discussed, including “ethical issues in foreign policy, the logic of the US national security strategy, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and other themes.”

The Pentagon noted that “Cardinal Pierre welcomed this initiative, and both parties look forward to continuing an open and respectful dialogue.” The US Ambassador to the Vatican, Brian Burch, also remarked on X about “these distortions that feed division and misunderstanding,” describing the meeting as “very cordial.”

Since his election in May, Leon XIV, a Chicago native, has taken a clear stance against certain decisions of the Trump administration, particularly regarding immigration, and criticized at the beginning of January “a diplomacy of force.” The American president’s creed is “peace through strength.” Within the Trump administration, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, devout Catholics, attended the inaugural mass of the first American pope.

Recently, Pope Leon XIV appointed a new ambassador to the United States, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, replacing Cardinal Pierre, who retired at the age of 80.