Russia peace talks in the Vatican marks a significant development for the first US-born pontiff, just as the Trump administration appears to be stepping back from leading negotiations.The Vatican has helped arbitrate delicate matters of diplomacy in the past.

Pope Leo XIV met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio a day after formally taking his role as leader of the Catholic church.

U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV, in his first address to world diplomats, said on Friday that the dignity of migrants had to be respected, possibly putting himself on a collision course with the administration of U.

Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, was part of a delegation meeting with the Pope. In addition to the White House invite, he brought gifts, including two books by St.

President Donald Trump is hoping separate phone calls with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will make progress toward a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine.

JD Vance is attending Pope Leo's inaugural mass. The trip could set the tone for the Trump administration's relationship with the new pope.