'The Catholic Church Had Better Take Its Side': How the Pope got Threatened by the Pentagon
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Pentagon Challenges Pope Over US Military DominanceIn January 2026, a senior Vatican diplomat was warned about US military power and political tensions during a secret Pentagon meeting.
Key FactsApr 9, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: wantedinrome.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: wantedinrome.com
- Shortly after Pope Leo XIV's State of the World address, a Vatican envoy was urged at the Pentagon to align with US interests.
- A US official referenced the 14th-century Avignon Papacy as a historical threat, which was perceived by Vatican officials as a warning of military force.
- The Pope's planned US visit for the nation's 250th anniversary was canceled amid diplomatic disputes and local opposition.
- Despite the Pentagon confrontation, Pope Leo XIV intensified his calls for peace and openly criticized US foreign policy.
The United States has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world, and the Catholic Church had better take its side.— Elbridge Colby, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, during a Pentagon meeting with Cardinal Christophe Pierre.
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