The Holy See Press Office reported that the first American pope held a private meeting on Monday with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha.

Vatican News added that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his wife, Jeanette, also attended the private meeting.

Vance, Rubio, and their wives were present at the pope’s inaugural mass on Sunday.

Following the private audience with the pope on Monday, Rubio met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, according to the Holy See Press Office.

The Holy See reported that Vance and Gallagher engaged in “cordial” discussions at the Secretariat of State, reaffirming the positive bilateral relationship between the U.S. government and the Holy See.

They also discussed cooperation between the Church and the U.S. government, along with “some matters of special relevance to ecclesial life and religious freedom.”

The Holy See Press Office stated that “Finally, there was an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved.”

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