Rome, 19 April 2025 (dpa/MIA) – US Vice President JD Vance has held an audience with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican reported on Saturday.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, was accompanied by his family.

The Vatican said there had been an exchange of opinion on religious freedom and dealing with refugees.

There had been speculation ahead of the meeting that Pope Francis could also attend, but the Vatican statement made no reference to this. Francis is recovering from double pneumonia and has cut back his schedule.

Since his discharge from hospital four weeks ago, the 88-year-old pope has met only the British royals, King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

After the meeting, Vance visited the Sistine Chapel. On Sunday, he is scheduled to attend Easter Mass in St Peter's Basilica along with his wife and their three children.

Francis is due to be represented by a high-ranking cardinal during the Mass, but he is expected to deliver the traditional Urbi et Orbi (To the City and to the World) blessing in front of tens of thousands on St Peter's Square afterwards.

It is not known whether Vance will be involved in the second round of indirect talks between the United States and Iran on Iran's nuclear programme taking place in Rome on Saturday.

Vance is scheduled to travel on to India following his trip to Italy. His wife Usha is of Indian origin.

Photo: EPA