Pope Cancels U.S. Trip After Pentagon Warning Over Iran Criticism

Strained relations between Washington and the Vatican after reported Pentagon threat over Pope's anti-war rhetoric.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:34am

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A serene, cinematic painting of the exterior of the Vatican, with a lone figure standing in the foreground, the building bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of contemplation and unease.The strained relations between the U.S. and the Vatican cast a somber mood over the iconic religious institution.Washington Today

A reported Pentagon warning to Pope Leo XIV has strained U.S.-Vatican relations, prompting the pope to cancel a planned visit to the United States. The meeting came after the pope criticized what he described as a global shift toward militarized diplomacy, sparking concerns from Vatican officials that the U.S. was threatening to use military force against the Holy See.

Why it matters

The episode appears to have strained a historically cooperative relationship between the U.S. government and the Catholic Church. Explicit warnings tied to military power from the Pentagon to the Vatican are highly unusual, raising broader concerns about the tone of U.S. engagement with religious institutions.

The details

According to a recent report, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby met with Cardinal Christophe Pierre at the Pentagon soon after Pope Leo XIV's January speech criticizing the 'diplomacy based on force.' Colby allegedly told the Vatican representative, 'The United States has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side.' The pope has since canceled a planned U.S. visit and declined an invitation to attend the country's 250th anniversary celebration.

  • On January 9, Pope Leo XIV delivered a speech criticizing a global shift toward 'militarized diplomacy'.
  • Soon after, in late January, the reported Pentagon meeting with Cardinal Christophe Pierre took place.
  • The pope has since canceled a planned visit to the United States, scheduled for July 2026.

The players

Pope Leo XIV

The current head of the Catholic Church, who has been critical of the Trump administration's foreign policy approach.

Elbridge Colby

The Undersecretary of Defense for Policy who allegedly issued a warning to the Vatican during a meeting with a senior Catholic official.

Cardinal Christophe Pierre

A senior Vatican official who met with Undersecretary Colby at the Pentagon, according to reports.

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What they’re saying

“A diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force. War is back in vogue, and a zeal for war is spreading.”

— Pope Leo XIV, Pope

“The United States has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side.”

— Elbridge Colby, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy

What’s next

The White House has rejected the report's characterization of the meeting, but the episode appears to have strained relations between the U.S. and the Vatican. It remains to be seen how the two sides will seek to repair the relationship going forward.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the potential for escalating tensions between the U.S. government and religious institutions, particularly when it comes to foreign policy disagreements. It raises broader questions about the appropriate boundaries of engagement between the military and religious leaders.