Vance who converted to Roman Catholicism as an adult. The two men met at the church’s headquarters at the Vatican, in Italy.

Leo, the Chicago-born former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a relative unknown on the global stage, elected as the new pope on May 8. While a cardinal, he issued several disapproving posts about the administration's policies on his X account, reflecting his concern about migrants. The Vatican has not confirmed or denied that the posts were authentic.

The late Pope Francis, who died on April 21, was a champion of the poor and of immigrants who frequently criticized the Trump administration. He called Trump's plan to deport millions of migrants a "disgrace" and rebuked Vance for arguing that the bible calls on Christians to prioritize love for their families and countrymen over strangers and foreigners.

Vance met briefly with Francis on Easter Sunday, the day before the pontiff died.
Vance and Rubio have been in Rome to lead the US delegation at Leo's inaugural Mass as pope, held on Sunday among crowds of an estimated 200 000 people in St. Peter's Square.

--Reuters--