Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon (@ksvarnon.bsky.social)

Why Would Pentagon Allegedly Threaten Pope's Ambassador With 'Avignon Papacy'? During a January closed-door meeting at the Pentagon, a Trump administration official reportedly warned a Vatican ambassador that America had the military power to do whatever it wants in the world, and that the Catholic Church had better take its side.While the sourcing is limited, the American government confirms the meeting happened (if not the wording used) and Christopher Hale confirms that “some Vatican officials were so alarmed by the Pentagon’s tactics that they shelved plans for Pope Leo XIV to visit the United States later this year [for the celebration of America’s 250th].” All of https://religiondispatches.org/2026/04/10/why-would-pentagon-allegedly-threaten-popes-ambassador-avignon-papacy