Pope Leo XIV, the world’s first U.S. pope, plans to meet with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, a converted Catholic, on Sunday, during an inaugural mass for the new pontiff.

Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said this on Friday.

Mr Parolin emphasised that the schedule and organisation for Sunday, with guests from more than 200 delegations worldwide, is very complex.

However, he said the protocol team is working on arranging the meeting.

Mr Vance will lead the U.S. delegation for the 10:00 a.m. (0800 GMT) Mass on Sunday.

For the vice president, this marks a quick return to Rome.

He was the last senior international politician to visit the late Pope Francis just before his death.

U.S. President Donald Trump attended Mr Francis’ funeral.

During a potential bilateral meeting between Pope Leo and Mr Vance, international crisis hotspots, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, will likely be on the agenda.

After direct negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky failed to materialise in Turkey this week, the Vatican is considered a possible venue for talks.

“The situation is very difficult, dramatic,” said Mr Parolin, considered the second most important figure in the Vatican after the pope.

He announced that Pope Leo plans to potentially make the Vatican, the Holy See, available for a direct meeting between the two sides.

The pope recently hinted that he wants to help in the search for peace in the conflict.

(dpa/NAN)