Vatican backs up Pentagon on tone of Colby meeting

The Vatican backed up the Pentagon in pushing back against news reports claiming a meeting earlier this year between the Holy See’s then-envoy to the U.S. and a top Pentagon official turned heated, resulting in threats made against the Catholic Church. 

The Pentagon’s policy office chief, Elbridge Colby, huddled with Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican’s former diplomat to the U.S., at the Pentagon on Jan. 22. The Free Press reported on Monday that during the meeting, Colby warned that the U.S. military has the “power to do whatever it wants — and that the church had better take its side,” a characterization that has been denied by the Defense Department.

Now, the Vatican is taking the Pentagon’s side, saying Friday that the meeting was part of “Pontifical Representative’s regular duties and provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on matters of mutual interest.” 

“The account offered by certain media outlets regarding this meeting does not correspond to the truth in any way,” said Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office. 

The Free Press also reported, citing unnamed sources, that a U.S. official raised the threat of the Avignon Papacy, referring to a nearly 70-year period from 1309-76 when France’s King Philip IV captured the pope, and following popes resided in Avignon, France, as opposed to Rome. 

The Pentagon pushed back against the report, saying the closed-door meeting between Colby, Pierre and his team was “substantive, respectful and professional.” 

“During the cordial meeting, they discussed a range of topics, including issues of morality in foreign policy, the logic of the U.S. National Security Strategy, Europe, Africa, Latin America and other topics,” the Pentagon said Thursday. “Cardinal Pierre expressed his appreciation for the outreach and both sides looked forward to continued open and respectful dialogue.”

Brian Burch, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, said Thursday he spoke with the cardinal, who “confirmed” recent news reports regarding the meeting “are ‘fabrications’ that were ‘just invented.’”

“Given the intelligence and seriousness of Mr. Colby, I was likewise not surprised when His Eminence acknowledged there were no threats of any kind in the meeting,” Burch said on the social platform X. “‘It was a frank and cordial meeting that took place two months ago.’ Threat of Avignon? ‘None.’”

“When we disagree, we have done so with sincerity and respect. I believe the same could be said of his January meeting with Undersecretary Colby,” Burch continued in another post. “It’s regrettable that some journalists and online agitators chose to exploit a routine meeting to sow division between the Holy See and the United States.”

The attention on the meeting comes as Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, has warned against the growing use of military force to resolve issues overseas. 

The Vatican has expressed worries over the successful operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and Leo cautioned against President Trump’s recent threat that a “whole civilization will die” in Iran. 

When asked about the January meeting, the White House argued that the president’s foreign policy actions have made the world a safe place and touted the support Trump had from Catholic Americans during the 2024 election. 

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the Trump administration has a “positive” relationship with the Vatican. 

“The President has done more than any of his predecessors to save lives and resolve global conflicts and following the completion of his military objectives in Iran, he is hopeful that the agreement under discussion can lead to a lasting peace in the Middle East,” Kelly said in a statement on Thursday.