US vice president hand delivers invitation for Pope Leo to visit White House
'The vice president passed along a letter to the pope from the president, and from the first lady, extending their warm wishes and inviting them to the White House,' says White House
A view of Oval Office, White House in Washington DC
WASHINGTON
US President Donald Trump has invited Pope Leo XIV to visit the White House at his earliest convenience, the White House said Monday.
The invitation was passed along in a letter hand-delivered by Vice President JD Vance when he held a private audience with the American-born pontiff at the Vatican, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
"The vice president passed along a letter to the pope from the president, and from the first lady, extending their warm wishes and inviting them to the White House as soon as they possibly can come," Leavitt said.
Vance is currently in Italy where he held meetings with European officials, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the sidelines of Leo's inaugural mass.
Asked about the sit-down with Zelenskyy, Leavitt said it was "a good meeting, a productive meeting, and we're grateful that the vice president did it."
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