Catholic Twitter exploded Wednesday when The Free Press published a story accusing the Trump administration of trying to strongarm the Vatican into supporting its war with Iran.
According to the report, Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby summoned Cardinal Christophe Pierre, then Pope Leo’s ambassador to the U.S. The admin was reportedly upset that in January the Pope had in his State of the World address perhaps taken a shot at the U.S. by urging nations not to violate other nations’ borders. Colby allegedly warned Cardinal Pierre that the U.S. had the military power to do whatever it wanted and that the Catholic Church better get on board.
The meeting supposedly intensified, and one U.S. official allegedly invoked the Avignon Papacy, when a series of popes were under the influence of the French Crown.
The Vatican Embassy confirmed the meeting took place but did not offer any details on its tone. The Pentagon described The Free Press’ account as “highly exaggerated and distorted.” Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, said he had not read the report but had met Cardinal Pierre before and would like to talk to him about what may have happened.
As the story made the rounds though, there were signs that it may have indeed been “exaggerated.” JD Flynn, the editor of The Pillar, a well respected Catholic media outlet, said his team had been unable to confirm that the meeting occurred as The Free Press described it.
“That shouldn’t lead anyone to a conclusion of any kind,” Flynn wrote. “Except that your pals down at the pillar haven’t confirmed this report.”
Then Brian Burch, the ambassador to the Holy See, said Thursday afternoon that he spoke directly with Cardinal Pierre.
“As expected, he confirmed that recent media characterizations of his meeting with Undersecretary Colby are ‘fabrications’ that were ‘just invented,’” Burch wrote. “Given the intelligence and seriousness of Mr. Colby, I was likewise not surprised when His Eminence acknowledged there were no threats of any kind in the meeting.”
Burch added that Cardinal Pierre described the meeting as “frank and cordial” and that a threat of Avignon never occurred.
Jonathan Liedl, the managing editor of the National Catholic Register, raised some further red flags in The Free Press’ report.
“None of the sources upon which the story is based were apparently even at the meeting. They were ‘briefed’ on it. So we get little floating nuggets like ‘the Avignon papacy was invoked!’ without needed context,” he wrote in a X thread.
“To confirm dramatic characterizations of the meeting and some alleged reference to Avignon, you certainly should [speak to someone who was there]. If you don’t, it runs the risk of looking like gossip,” he added.
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