Free Republic

ROME — The Vatican’s foreign minister said the Holy See has a much better relationship with the Biden administration than it did with “the previous administration” in an interview published Wednesday. Speaking with the Jesuit-run America magazine, Archbishop Paul Gallagher said that “our exchanges with the Biden administration are frequent, particularly through the U.S. embassy to the Holy See.” While the Vatican does not always respond in the way that they would wish, “it is a very positive relationship,” the archbishop stated, because neither party has any hesitation to approach the other. “So compared with the previous administration, it’s easier...

ROME (Reuters) - The Vatican’s number two said on Thursday after talks with Mike Pompeo that the two sides’ positions on China remained far apart and firmly asserted the Holy See’s right to pursue an accord with Beijing denounced by the U.S. Secretary of State. Pompeo met Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Foreign Minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher on Thursday on a visit to Rome marked by Vatican irritation over Pompeo’s public criticism of a Holy See accord with Beijing on the appointment of bishops. Vatican officials have said they were “surprised” by Pompeo’s comments, made last month, and...