White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Vance passed a long a letter to the pope from President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump “extending their warm wishes and inviting him to the White House as soon as he possibly can” visit.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio held their first formal meeting with Pope Leo XIV on Monday as the Trump administration seeks to reset relations with the Vatican by working together on resolving the war in Ukraine and de-emphasizing fundamental disagreements over migrant policy.

Pope Leo XIV has offered the Vatican as a venue for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, while the Vatican calls the outcome of Friday's talks "tragic".