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.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance has extended an invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the United States during a meeting at the Vatican. Vance offered Leo a letter from U.S.

During a meeting at the Vatican on Monday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance gifted Pope Leo XIV a personalized Chicago Bears jersey and extended an invitation to visit the United States ahead of the U.S.-led push for ceasefire negotiations in Russia’s war in Ukraine.