Leo’s relationship with the Trump administration soured quickly after he was elected on May 8, writes the Rome-based journalist Mattia Ferraresi. The White House invited Leo to return home and celebrate America’s 250th birthday at the White House this summer, but he declined.

The president's polling numbers have flipped with this voter demographic, according to an analysis of two recent surveys.

The increase in faith-fueled militaristic rhetoric is pitting the president against a growing list of faith leaders, ranging from local clergy to the pope.

U.S. and Vatican officials have sought to downplay accounts of a strained relationship, but there have been tensions between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church.

The Vatican has postponed Pope Leo XIV's visit to the US in 2026 due to tensions with the Trump administration, including alleged threats against the Pope's ambassador. Disagreements over U.S. foreign policy and the Pope's criticism of immigration practices influenced this decision.

Tensions between the Trump administration and the Vatican escalated this week after reports of a tense January meeting between Pentagon officials and the Holy See, prompting Vice President JD Vance to respond publicly while signaling uncertainty about what actually happened.

Cardinal Christophe Pierre was told American-born Pope Leo XIV had 'better take' the U.S. side in military matters, a news report stated.

A reported reference to the “Avignon Papacy” during a closed-door Pentagon meeting has sparked debate amid tensions between Donald Trump ’s administration and the Vatican. While the historical term may seem obscure, experts say it carries significant meaning in the context of Church-state relations.