Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio enjoyed a private audience with Pope Leo XIV, bringing with them a message from the White House.

US President Donald Trump, Mr Zelensky and Mr Vance last met at the White House in February. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

But Vance is in a unique position compared with recent vice presidents, said Democratic strategist Ashley Etienne, who was communications director to Harris during much of her first year as vice president. Vance’s boss is term-limited by the Constitution, and that gives him a different mandate, she said.

The meeting, which also included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was the first encounter between Vance and Zelensky since a heated Oval Office session in February.

Pope Leo XIV delivered a message of "love and unity" during his inaugural mass on Sunday. Leo held his inaugural Mass on Sunday, in what marked the official start of his pontificate. It came after the Chicago native was chosen as the new leader of the Catholic Church on May 8,