Vice President JD Vance said he hopes the relationship the U.S. is cultivating with Pope Leo XIV will lead to the first American pontiff playing a significant role in diplomatic efforts worldwide.

Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were given a one-hour audience with Leo on Sunday following the Pope’s first Mass since being named successor to Pope Francis, who died April 21.

Vance said Monday before returning from Rome after a three-day visit that he hopes Leo can become a crucial partner in the Trump administration’s efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine and in other conflict areas, NBC News reported Tuesday.

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