The Trump administration is trying to calm a furore over claims it threatened Pope Leo XIV’s ambassador to Washington in an effort to pressure the Vatican to fall in line behind Washington’s military policies. 

The encounter took place at the Pentagon in January as the Vatican was growing increasingly concerned about the US administration’s military actions. 

Trump had threatened to seize Greenland from Nato ally Denmark, launched missile attacks on alleged drug-smuggling boats and captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, for whom the Holy See had tried to negotiate a diplomatic exit. Pope Leo, the first US-born leader of the Catholic Church, had publicly lamented the growing use of military force to resolve international disputes. “War is back in vogue and the zeal for war is spreading,” Leo told diplomats.