{"id":6160,"date":"2026-04-12T12:23:55","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T12:23:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/conservative-politics.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/12\/vatican-officials-deny-mainstream-media-reports-regarding-heated-tumultuous-meeting-at-pentagon-one-america-news-network\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T12:23:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T12:23:55","slug":"vatican-officials-deny-mainstream-media-reports-regarding-heated-tumultuous-meeting-at-pentagon-one-america-news-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/conservative-politics.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/12\/vatican-officials-deny-mainstream-media-reports-regarding-heated-tumultuous-meeting-at-pentagon-one-america-news-network\/","title":{"rendered":"Vatican officials deny mainstream media reports regarding \u2018heated,\u2019 tumultuous meeting at Pentagon \u2013 One America News Network"},"content":{"rendered":"
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U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby arrives to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 03, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

OAN Staff\u00a0Lillian Mann<\/a> and Brooke Mallory<\/a>
2:45 PM \u2013 Friday, April 10, 2026<\/p>\n

Both the Vatican and the Pentagon are pushing back against mainstream media reports claiming that a meeting earlier this year in January between the Holy See\u2019s then-envoy to the U.S. and a top Pentagon official turned both heated and tumultuous, resulting in \u201cthreats\u201d made against the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n

A small group of officials, including the Pentagon\u2019s Under Secretary of War for Policy, Elbridge A. Colby, and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, reportedly met at the Pentagon on January 22nd<\/sup> to discuss their views related to current events, according to those who were in attendance.<\/p>\n

Media speculation also intensified following a report from The Free Press<\/em> claiming that, during the encounter, Colby threatened that the U.S. military has the \u201cpower to do whatever it wants\u201d and warned the Church to align with American interests. <\/p>\n

The Department of War has since flatly denied those claims. In a social media post on Thursday, the Pentagon dismissed the \u201cgrossly false and distorted\u201d reporting, asserting instead that Colby and Cardinal Christophe Pierre engaged in a \u201crespectful and reasonable discussion.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Notably, the Vatican has also since corroborated the Pentagon\u2019s account. On Friday, Catholic Church officials clarified that the meeting was a routine component of the \u201cPontifical Representative\u2019s regular duties,\u201d serving as a standard opportunity to exchange views on matters of mutual interest.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe account offered by certain media outlets regarding this meeting does not correspond to the truth in any way,\u201d said Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring 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,\u201d\u00a0the Pentagon\u00a0said\u00a0Thursday. \u201cCardinal Pierre expressed his appreciation for the outreach and both sides looked forward to continued open and respectful dialogue.\u201d<\/p>\n


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I was pleased to speak today with His Eminence, Cardinal Christophe\u00a0Pierre.\u00a0 As expected, he confirmed that recent media characterizations of his meeting with Undersecretary Colby are \u201cfabrications\u201d that were \u201cjust invented.\u201d Given the intelligence and seriousness of Mr. Colby, I\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/R2ogLy2HAf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ambassador Brian Burch (@BrianBurchUSA) April 9, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch also intervened on Thursday, stating he had spoken directly with the Cardinal. According to Burch, the Cardinal confirmed that reports characterizing the meeting as hostile were \u201cfabrications that were just invented.\u201d<\/p>\n

Left-wing critics of the Trump administration had also pointed to allegations that a U.S. official referenced the Avignon Papacy during the exchange. This 14th<\/sup>-century historical period saw the French monarchy leverage its military and political power to exert control over the papacy, eventually forcing the relocation of the papal seat from Rome to Avignon.<\/p>\n

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However, Burch slammed this claim on a post on the platform X.<\/p>\n

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\u201cGiven 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,\u201d\u00a0Burch\u00a0wrote. \u201cIt was a frank and cordial meeting that took place two months ago. Threat of Avignon? None.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we disagree, we have done so with sincerity and respect. I believe the same could be said of his January meeting with Undersecretary Colby,\u201d Burch continued in another post. \u201cIt\u2019s regrettable that some journalists and online agitators chose to exploit a routine meeting to sow division between the Holy See and the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n


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Nonetheless, renewed interest in the January meeting comes amid recent policy friction between the Vatican and U.S. officials. <\/p>\n

In a recent address, the new American Pope Leo XIV warned that \u201ca zeal for war is spreading,\u201d arguing that the post-WWII prohibition against using force to violate national borders has been \u201ccompletely undermined.\u201d<\/p>\n

When questioned about the January encounter, the White House defended the administration\u2019s foreign policy as a stabilizer for global safety. Officials also highlighted President Trump\u2019s record of support for Catholic Americans during the 2024 election as evidence of a constructive relationship with the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n

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Reverend Antonio Spadaro, undersecretary of the Vatican\u2019s Dicastery for Culture and Education, also emphasized separately that, \u201cThe Pope is against war, not against Trump or any other political figure or head of state. There is a very clear message \u2014 the defense of peace, of international law \u2014 that has always characterized the Holy See.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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On Friday morning, as attention on the meeting escalated, the Vatican issued a statement, saying: \u201cAs confirmed by His Eminence Christophe Pierre, former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, his meeting with Mr. Elbridge Andrew Colby was part of the Papal Representative\u2019s regular mission and provided the opportunity for an exchange of views on matters of mutual interest. The narrative offered by some media outlets about this meeting is completely untrue.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In a February interview with the Washington Post<\/em>, Vice President JD Vance addressed the rumors by delineating the boundaries between church and state. <\/p>\n

He emphasized that as a government official, he holds \u201ca different job\u201d than the clergy, suggesting that while the administration respects the Vatican\u2019s moral perspective, its primary obligation remains the advancement of American national security and strategic interests.<\/p>\n

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\u201cSo that is going to inevitably lead to conflict between the government and the clergy,\u201d Vance said. \u201cWhat I try to do is come at that conflict in a spirit of charity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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