Pentagon Pressure on Pope Over Trump Critique Sparks Vatican Alarm

A recent report details a confrontational January Pentagon meeting in which Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby allegedly warned Cardinal Christophe Pierre that the U.S. has the power to act militarily and urged the Vatican to side with Washington, prompting Pope Leo XIV to cancel a planned U.S. visit. The Vatican framed the warning as unprecedented intimidation, drawing comparisons to the Avignon papacy; the White House disputed the portrayal and said the meeting was respectful.