Vice President JD Vance officially invited Pope Leo XIV to the White House, following a “cordial” conversation between the two men on Monday at the Vatican. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also at the meeting, and Vance passed on a letter to the new pope from President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.

Pope Leo XIV's eldest brother has drawn attention due to social media posts contrasting the pontiff's message of peace and unity.

President Trump has invited newly inaugurated Pope Leo to the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday. Why it matters: If accepted, the visit would mark the first time a pope has visited the White House since Pope Francis visited then-President Obama in 2015.