A persistent rumor that a meeting in January between Pentagon officials and a Vatican ambassador was “unpleasant and confrontational” was debunked this week.
On Jan. 22, War Department official Elbridge Colby met with Vatican ambassador Cardinal Christophe Pierre. Following the meeting, rumors began to emerge that Colby and his team had, in effect, bullied Pierre.
One source told NBC News affiliate station WMAQ reporter Mary Ann Ahern that the meeting was “most unpleasant and confrontational.”
Citing its own sources, The Free Press similarly described the meeting as “a bitter lecture warning that the United States has the military power to do whatever it wants — and that the Church had better take its side.”
Another source told The Pillar that the meeting was “tense” and “aggressive” but denied that any threats were made.
In a social media post published Thursday, the Pentagon put the rumors to rest:
Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby @USWPColby had a substantive, respectful, and professional meeting with Cardinal Pierre, the then-Papal Nuncio, and his team on January 22, 2026. During the cordial meeting, they discussed a range of topics, including issues of… pic.twitter.com/McI0sB2wKC
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) April 9, 2026
“During the cordial meeting, they discussed a range of topics, including issues of morality in foreign policy, the logic of the U.S. National Security Strategy, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and other topics,” the Pentagon wrote on social media. “Cardinal Pierre expressed his appreciation for the outreach and both sides looked forward to continued open and respectful dialogue.”
“In light of grossly false and distorted recent reporting, the Department of War repeats its statement: Recent reporting of the meeting is highly exaggerated and distorted. The meeting between Pentagon and Vatican officials was a respectful and reasonable discussion. We have nothing but the highest regard and welcome continued dialogue with the Holy See,” the Pentagon added.
Brian Burch, the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, also chimed in, writing in a tweet that he’d obtained confirmation directly from Pierre himself that the meeting with Colby wasn’t so bad after all:
I was pleased to speak today with His Eminence, Cardinal Christophe Pierre. As expected, he confirmed that recent media characterizations of his meeting with Undersecretary Colby are “fabrications” that were “just invented.” Given the intelligence and seriousness of Mr. Colby, I… https://t.co/R2ogLy2HAf
— Ambassador Brian Burch (@BrianBurchUSA) April 9, 2026
Cardinal Pierre has been a regular interlocutor since my nomination. When we disagree, we have done so with sincerity and respect. I believe the same could be said of his January meeting with Undersecretary Colby. It’s regrettable that some journalists and online agitators…
— Ambassador Brian Burch (@BrianBurchUSA) April 9, 2026
“I was pleased to speak today with His Eminence, Cardinal Christophe Pierre,” he tweeted Thursday. “As expected, he confirmed that recent media characterizations of his meeting with Undersecretary Colby are ‘fabrications’ that were ‘just invented.'”
“Given the intelligence and seriousness of Mr. Colby, I was likewise not suprised [SIC] when His Eminence acknowledged there were no threats of any kind in the meeting. ‘It was a frank and cordial meeting that took place two months ago.’ Threat of Avignon? ‘None,'” he added.
The Free Press had alleged that Colby invoked the Avignon Papacy during the meeting. The Papacy refers to “the period in the 1300s when the French Crown leveraged its military power to dominate the papal authority.”
The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See echoed Burch and the Pentagon in its own series of tweets:
Ambassador Burch spoke today with His Eminence Cardinal Pierre, the outgoing papal nuncio to the United States, regarding his January meeting with Under Secretary Elbridge Colby. 1/4 https://t.co/FYwa2T7uln
— U.S. in Holy See (@USinHolySee) April 9, 2026
The Cardinal emphatically denied the media’s portrayal of his meeting with Colby. He described the meeting as “frank, but very cordial” and a “normal encounter.” He confirmed that the reporting “does not reflect what happened” and was “just invented to make a story.” 2/4
— U.S. in Holy See (@USinHolySee) April 9, 2026
The U.S. government and our Embassy regularly meet with representatives of the Holy See, including the Nuncio. 3/4
— U.S. in Holy See (@USinHolySee) April 9, 2026
Deliberate misrepresentation of these routine meetings sows unfounded division and misunderstanding. Our relationship remains strong and productive. 4/4
— U.S. in Holy See (@USinHolySee) April 9, 2026
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V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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