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Published 16:14 09 Apr 2026 GMT
Pope Leo XIV may not visit his homeland of the USA while the current President is in office, according to a Vatican source.
A report claims that a heated meeting between a Catholic official and the Pentagon ended on bad terms, fracturing the relationship between Donald Trump and the Pope.
Despite being born in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo, real name Robert Francis Prevost, has openly spoken out against many of the US President's policies.
He has opposed the 79-year-old's views on immigration and war, especially since the conflict in the Middle East has escalated.
The Free Press reported earlier this week that the Trump administration's relationship with the first American Pope had collapsed, following the Pope's annual address to the Vatican’s diplomatic corps in January.
Pope Leo held nothing back when speaking to his network of representatives about nations which were seeking conflict around the world.
According to the publication, the Pentagon then requested a meeting with Cardinal Christophe Pierre, in an "unprecedented" turn of events.
Pierre was the Pope's personal envoy to the US at the time.
Vatican and US officials revealed to The Free Press that the Pentagon were not fans of the Pope's statements at the beginning of the year, taking them as attacks on Trump and his policies.
A Vatican official told The Free Press that the Pentagon was rubbed the wrong way by the Pope's questioning of the "Donroe Doctrine", which is the President's spin on Monroe Doctrine.
Essentially, he calls for the US to be made the sole controller of the Western Hemisphere.
US government officials had been responding to a statement from the Pope, where he claimed: "A diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force, by either individuals or groups of allies."
The War Department criticized the publication's reporting on the meeting, as they described it as "highly exaggerated and distorted."
In a statement to The Independent, they said: "The meeting between Pentagon and Vatican officials was a respectful and reasonable discussion.
"We have nothing but the highest regard and welcome continued dialogue with the Holy See."
The Pope reportedly refused Trump's invitation to attend the US' 250th anniversary events later this year, following his meeting with government officials.
Pope Leo will not be in the US on July 4, as he is instead set to visit the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, which is known as an arrival point for African migrants looking to start their lives in Europe.
In a blunt statement to The Free Press, a Vatican official said that the Pope has no plans to visit the US while Trump is still in office.
“The Pope may well never visit the United States under this administration," they claimed.
As he has opposed the conflict going on between the US and Iran, he said during his Wednesday (April 8) address that he is pleased with the announcement of a ceasefire.
The Pope said: "In light of these past hours of great tension for the Middle East and for the whole world, I welcome with satisfaction... the announcement of an immediate two-week truce."
His admission comes after POTUS took to Truth Social mere days ago, threatening to wipe out the ‘whole civilization’ of Iran, in a move which was called "unacceptable" by Leo on Tuesday.
