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.

Pope Leo XIV during his first Mass as pontiff on Sunday appeared to take a subtle dig at President Donald Trump. The pope was also said to have snubbed Vice President JD Vance after the Mass, even though the two men met the following day.

Pope Leo XIV poses for a photograph with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his wife, Jeanette Dousdebes Rubio, in the library of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican May 19, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

"I hope to be able to respond to [the challenges] with a healthy dialogue," said Cardinal Robert Prevost in 2023.

There are early signs that Pope Leo XIV is capitalizing on a moment of euphoria for Catholics and gaining traction within a divided church.

Pope Leo XIV had an initial one-word response when asked by a reporter on Monday if he had a message for his native United States. It left observers wondering if the pontiff would soon have more to say about President Donald Trump’s policies.

Pope Leo XIV will preside over his inaugural mass today in front of St Peter’s Basilica, which marks the formal start of his papacy. JD Vance, Marco Rubio and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are attending.

Francis’ papacy honored Latin American Catholics killed for their social justice work, a theologian explains – and Leo may continue that legacy.