{"id":2589046,"date":"2026-04-09T18:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T22:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pentagon-denies-report-vatican-envoy-received-bitter-dressing-down\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T18:10:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T22:10:39","slug":"pentagon-denies-report-vatican-envoy-received-bitter-dressing-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pentagon-denies-report-vatican-envoy-received-bitter-dressing-down\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentagon denies report Vatican envoy received &#8216;bitter&#8217; dressing down"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpentagon-denies-report-vatican-envoy-received-bitter-dressing-down%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2589046&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports that the United States denied claims of a falling-out with the Vatican, calling the reports \u201cgrossly false.\u201d A free Press piece alleged that elbridge Colby, the U.S. Undersecretary of War for Policy, lectured and threatened Cardinal Christophe Pierre at a late-January Pentagon meeting, implying a warning that the U.S.could use its military power and urging the Church too take a side. The report, citing vague references to a breakdown in White House-Holy See relations and even mentioning Pope Leo XIV backing out of a potential visit, suggested tensions were higher than publicly acknowledged.<\/p>\n<p>In response, the Department of Defense released a statement via its Rapid Response account saying the coverage was highly exaggerated and distorted, and that the meeting was respectful and cordial. the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See echoed that Pierre described the reports as fabrications and that the discussions were frank but cordial.Pierre has not issued a public statement, and the Washington Examiner has sought confirmation from the Apostolic Nunciature.<\/p>\n<p>The piece notes that while tensions between Rome and Washington may exist, they may not be as severe as some media portrayals suggest. Separately, pope Leo XIV is described as having condemned Donald Trump\u2019s threats toward Iran as \u201ctruly unacceptable.\u201d  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">US denies Vatican feud, claims cardinal called report of animosity &lsquo;fabrications&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The U.S. government is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/violent-dems-turning-up-the-heat-in-escalating-war-on-trump\/\" title=\"Violent Dems Turning Up The Heat In Escalating ... On Trump\">aggressively pushing back<\/a> on reports of a falling out with the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/vatican\/\">Holy See<\/a>, calling claims of a January dust-up at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-defense\/\">Department of War <\/a>&ldquo;grossly false.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thefp.com\/p\/why-the-vatican-and-the-white-house\">report from the <em>Free Press<\/em><\/a>  on Wednesday claimed Undersecretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby lectured and threatened Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, in late January at the Pentagon.<\/p>\n<p>The report, citing &ldquo;both Vatican and U.S. officials briefed on the meeting,&rdquo; alluded only vaguely to a &ldquo;bitter lecture warning that the United States has the military power to do whatever it wants&mdash;and that the Church had better take its side.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cardinal Christophe Pierre delivers an address during the National Eucharistic Congress opening ceremonies Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo\/Doug McSchooler)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Similarly, the piece claimed someone on the U.S. end &ldquo;invoked&rdquo; the Avignon Papacy &mdash; the period in the 13th century when the pope was captured and held in France &mdash; without clarifying what the official supposedly said.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Free Press<\/em> piece ultimately attributed this encounter to a behind-the-scenes breakdown of relations between the White House and Holy See, claiming <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pope-leo-xiv\/\">Pope Leo XIV<\/a> backed out of a possible visit to the U.S. in response.<\/p>\n<p>After the story took on a life of its own on social media, the War Department <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DOWResponse\/status\/2042300020494418303\">released a statement<\/a> on Thursday through its Rapid Response X account &ldquo;in light of grossly false and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >distorted recent reporting&#038;rdquo<\/a>; about the meeting, asserting that coverage of the January sit-down has been &ldquo;highly exaggerated and distorted.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The meeting between Pentagon and Vatican officials was a respectful and reasonable discussion,&rdquo; the War Department said. &ldquo;We have nothing but the highest regard and welcome continued dialogue with the Holy See.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See then followed up with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/USinHolySee\/status\/2042311953901580343\">its own response<\/a>, reporting that Amb. Brian Burch met with Pierre to discuss the media spectacle.<\/p>\n<p>Burch and the U.S. Embassy directly quoted Pierre as calling the reports of any animosity at the meeting &ldquo;fabrications&rdquo; and that the discussions were &ldquo;frank, but very cordial.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>They further quoted the cardinal as telling them that the <em>Free Press<\/em> story &ldquo;does not reflect what happened&rdquo; and was &ldquo;just invented to make a story.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">United States Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby attends a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo\/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Burch scolded &ldquo;journalists and online agitators&rdquo; for attempting to &ldquo;exploit a routine meeting to sow division between the Holy See and the United States.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4516795\/pope-leo-calls-on-those-who-unleash-wars-to-choose-peace-in-first-easter-mass\/\">POPE LEO CALLS ON THOSE WHO &lsquo;UNLEASH WARS&rsquo; TO &lsquo;CHOOSE PEACE&rsquo; IN FIRST EASTER MASS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Pierre does not maintain a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/student-suspended-from-education-program-for-saying-a-man-is-a-man-a-woman-is-a-woman\/\" title=\"Student Suspended From Education Program For Saying, \u2018A Man Is A Man, A Woman Is A Woman\u2019\">social media presence<\/a> and has not issued his own public statement.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> has reached out to the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington to confirm the quotes attributed to Pierre by the U.S. Embassy.<\/p>\n<p>Though tensions might not be as high as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/far-left-radical-xiomara-castro-takes-helm-of-honduras\/\" title=\"Far-Left Radical Xiomara Castro Takes Helm of Honduras\">media reports suggested<\/a>, not all is peachy between Rome and Washington.<\/p>\n<p>Pope Leo came out <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4519367\/pope-trump-threat-end-iranian-civilization\/\">strongly and directly against Trump&rsquo;s threat<\/a> to wipe out Iranian civilization this week, calling his bellicose rhetoric &ldquo;truly unacceptable.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>US denies Vatican feud; says reports fabrications<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2589047,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VaticanGraphic_44-e1775767598704.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3817,69279,3761,9367],"class_list":["post-2589046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-diplomacy","tag-international-relations-2","tag-pentagon","tag-vatican"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VaticanGraphic_44-e1775767598704.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2589046","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2589046"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2589046\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2589050,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2589046\/revisions\/2589050"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2589047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2589046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2589046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2589046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}