It is being reported by The Free Press that in the meeting [Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge] Colby told [the Vatican ambassador to the U.S.] Pierre, "The United States has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side."
well the US has now totally gone rogue.
at this point a "military operation" into Vatican City of all places by the US wouldn't surprise me.
Someone in the meeting then reportedly mentioned the Avignon Papacy to Pierre. This refers to a 14th century attack on the Vatican by the French king, in which Pope Boniface VIII was murdered by assassins and the Vatican was forced to relocate to Avignon where it could be controlled by the French crown for the next 67 years.
FTA
Holy shit did someone in the administration actually correctly use a historical reference?
Im sure they just asked grok about pope murders so they could make a absolutely ludicrious threat.
The longer we keep pretending they're idiots who don't know what they're talking about the longer we'll be in this.
The ones in front might be drooling simpletons but the ones in the back have done their homework and know exactly the threat they're making.
I think the defense of the Vatican is the responsibility of Italy. They don't play games with their sovereignty. Also, the Swiss Guard is far from being a cerimonial guard. They are on the level of special elite forces and they will kick some serious ass or die trying.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_of_Sigonella?wprov=sfla1
An attack on Italian troops would be an attack all of the EU. Even the UK would have something to say. You worried about the strait of Hormuz? Try Gibraltar...
An attack on the Vatican will also be an attack on all the Catholic world. The US would lose, no chance.
he United States has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world
There's this thing with a strait that seems to suggest otherwise.
Stop questioning our all dear leader REEEEEE!
Once, this was satire:
Threatening the POPE is EXACTLY what Jesus would Do!
-Republicans who want the Bible to be Law!
Most of those Republicans are some flavor of Protestant, so it tracks
Also they think the Pope is woke
When the Constitution is out of the way, Prosperity Gospel will be the official religion of the United States.
You understand that magats are typically protestant right?
Jesus (as written) would likely be very upset about a church that builds enormous cathedrals, hoards gold, has a corrupt "priest class" and has at times waged war.
Another thing to know about is that most of the Supreme Court justices are Catholics
6 of the 9 justices, 5 of them chosen by Republicans. Pretty wild for a country that’s 1/5th Catholic.
You understand that magats are typically protestant right?
The vice president is (or claims to be) catholic.
There's still a lot of Catholics in the movement.
On the matter VP Vance had this to say "I think it's always a bad idea to offer an opinion on stories that are unconfirmed and uncorroborated, so I'm not going to do that."
this is coming from the "Haitians are breaking into homes to eat your pets!" guy
Nothing reasonable about pedophile protecting fascist JD Vance. Let’s not allow them to position him as a viable leader.
If I was the pope and meeting JD the couch fucker was in the agenda, I'd also decline. Considering what happened to the previous pope who met that turd with makeup.
So they threatened the pope of the catholic church with assassination.... Thats some Israeli level shit. Is Trump even the president at this point?
Vance already took out the last pope.
let's not forget Vance already killed the last pope by extreme cringe
This is a huge story and I'm trying to find another source that also claims threats were made.
I've seen other references elsewhere. Any quotes on what was said seem to reference the Free Press article. But the other sources are still reporting that there was a meeting, and the Vatican didn't like what they heard,whatever it was.
According to Vatican and U.S. officials who were briefed on the meeting and spoke to the publication, the Pentagon criticized the Pope's statements in January, interpreting them as hostile attacks on Trump's policies.
....
A Vatican official speaking to The Free Press said the Pope has no plans to visit the U.S. while Trump is in office.
As things got heated, Colby reportedly lectured Cardinal Pierre on the military power of the U.S. and told him that the Catholic Church must pick a side, according to Hale, and mentioned the “Avignon papacy.”
All information about the meeting was obtained by Ferraresi from Vatican and U.S. officials briefed on the Pentagon meeting. What Could Such a Reference Indicate?
There is no doubt that a reference to the “Avignon papacy” by a Pentagon official was meant to make the Vatican feel uneasy about crossing the Trump administration.
Some have suggested that the reference of this chapter of medieval history might signal the Trump administration’s intention to trigger a new schism, while others think it would suggest its willingness to use military force against the Holy See. Ferraresi, however, said that interpreting it as a military threat is “just absurd.”
According to Mike Young, author of a newsletter on civic accountability, the mention of the “Avignon papacy” was a reference to “an implicit model for what happens to religious institutions that oppose state power.”
In a post on X, he wrote: “That’s not a slip of the tongue. That’s a studied historical reference deployed deliberately in a room with the Pope's senior diplomat. The message was not subtle.”
It would be ironic if Trump does to the Vatican what he did to Venezuela, even after the US Catholic Bishops' drive toward outlawing Abortion might have been the decisive factor giving Trump enough support to win both elections.
From what I've seen, there seems to be a difference in priorities between Catholic leadership in America vs the rest of the world. If the Republicans continue to antagonize the Pope, that would probably work in their favor.
You're not wrong, but that's not the way Catholicism works. People overplay the "infallibility" angle, but the bishops are supposed to listen to the Pope, that's the whole point.
The logical end result of "a difference in priorities between Catholic leadership in America vs the rest of the world." is either that the US bishops get in line, or we have a new Schism.
And I think this Pope knows it. The original Pope Leo is literally the Patron Saint of "defending against heresy". He chose that name for a reason.
"Trump deports Pope" is on my bingo card.
So when do prominent american catholics start getting excommunicated?
Does threatening The Pope and starting a war with Iran disqualify you from retaining a gold plastic FIFA Peace Prize?
Kinda funny considering this pope is an American.
We need some Templars.
"Did u even say thank you, pope?" -Vance
The mafia has more subtly and self control than anyone in this administration.
Nazis also had a problem with the Vatican during War World Two, What could possibly be the common reason now?
Someone in the meeting then reportedly mentioned the Avignon Papacy to Pierre. This refers to a 14th century attack on the Vatican by the French king, in which Pope Boniface VIII was murdered by assassins and the Vatican was forced to relocate to Avignon where it could be controlled by the French crown for the next 67 years.
Sounds like they’re threatening to do to the pope what they did to Maduro.
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