Pope Leo, Vance seek to mend fences after Trump feud

The Hill reports that Pope Leo XIV and Vice President Vance both sought to clarify tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration on Saturday, with both figures stating that earlier public disputes had been mischaracterized or taken out of context. The article is bylined to a reporter at a major national outlet with standard editorial practices, though the description provided is truncated and lacks specific quotes or named sources beyond the two principals mentioned. Corroboration from USA Today, Washington Examiner, and Daily Mail confirms an underlying feud exists—centered on criticism of Trump's Iran war policies and the Pope's anti-war positioning—though The Hill's framing emphasizes reconciliation rather than the substantive disagreement reported elsewhere. Watch for whether this Sunday statement represents a genuine de-escalation or a temporary rhetorical pause, especially given the independent reporting showing escalation just days earlier when Vance told the Pope to "be careful" and border czar Tom Homan told him to "leave politics alone."