This is the second time that Anthony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, has met with the Pope. He does so less than two months before the end of his term in office following Trump's victory.
Pope Francis and Blinken discussed international issues, such as the war in Ukraine and the Middle East. The meeting took place a few hours after the beginning of the two-month cease-fire agreed upon between Israel and Lebanon.
The U.S. diplomat, who traveled with his family, was also in conversation with top officials of the Vatican Secretariat of State: Cardinal Parolin and Archbishop Gallagher.
Blinken's first time with the Pope was in June 2021. It was for 40 minutes, during which the Pope recalled his trip to the United States in 2015.
TR: JD
