The Pentagon has denied reports that its top policy official threatened the Vatican during a late January meeting with the Holy See’s then-envoy to the United States, asserting that the meeting was "substantive, respectful and professional."
Elbridge Colby, head of the Pentagon’s policy office, met with Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican’s former diplomat to the U.S., on Jan. 22 at the Pentagon. The Free Press reported that during the meeting, Colby warned Pierre that the U.S. military has the "power to do whatever it wants" and that the Church should align with U.S. interests.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans and Trump administration officials have dismissed the reports as fabrications designed to undermine U.S.-Vatican relations. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly emphasized that "Catholic Americans resoundingly supported President Trump in 2024" and that the administration maintains a positive relationship with the Vatican, strengthened by Vice President Vance’s attendance at Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass.
The Pentagon and U.S. Embassy to the Holy See have forcefully rejected the reports as "grossly false and distorted." U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch said he spoke with Cardinal Pierre, who confirmed the reports are "fabrications" that were "just invented." The White House noted the President has "done more than any of his predecessors to save lives and resolve global conflicts" through military operations in Iran and elsewhere.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive critics and some Catholic leaders have raised concerns about the reported remarks, coming amid Pope Leo XIV’s explicit warnings against the growing use of military force in international diplomacy. The first U.S.-born pope has condemned military interventions in recent months, including criticizing President Trump’s threat that a "whole civilization will die tonight" in Iran.
Democratic lawmakers and foreign policy analysts on the left have called for transparency about the meeting’s contents. "If these reports are accurate, it would represent a deeply troubling approach to diplomatic relations with the Holy See," said one Senate aide familiar with discussions about Vatican-U.S. relations, speaking on condition of anonymity. Catholic progressive organizations have urged the Pentagon to clarify the nature of discussions that touched on matters of morality in foreign policy.
What the Numbers Show
The Jan. 22 meeting occurred two months before public reports emerged, during a period when Pope Leo XIV has issued multiple public warnings about military interventions. The Vatican’s concerns align with its historical role advocating for peaceful resolution of conflicts. Trump’s 2024 support among Catholic voters was cited by the White House as evidence of strong Vatican ties, though specific polling on Catholic voter preferences varies across surveys.
The operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, referenced in the context of Vatican concerns, was one of several recent U.S. military actions that have drawn papal criticism. Pope Leo XIV’s public statements against threats to Iran mark a continuation of the Vatican’s traditional diplomatic posture on military force.
The Bottom Line
The Pentagon and Vatican have both denied the substance of reports about the Jan. 22 meeting, with Cardinal Pierre calling the accounts "fabrications." The controversy emerges as Pope Leo XIV continues to publicly oppose military threats and interventions, positioning the Vatican as a vocal critic of elements of Trump administration foreign policy. Both sides have emphasized their commitment to continued dialogue, though the episode highlights ongoing tensions between U.S. military strategy and Vatican diplomatic priorities.