Pope Leo's foreign policy from Inside The Vatican

Pope Leo's foreign policy

46 minutes Posted Jan 16, 2026 at 5:00 am.

Intro

Vatican/Venezuela timeline in fall 2025

Parolin and Burch’s urgent Christmas Eve meeting

Pope Leo’s comments after U.S. operation

Leo XIV’s ‘State of the World’ address

Maria Corina Machado meets Pope Leo

Why Vatican diplomacy matters

Is Pope Leo a counterweight to Donald Trump?

Pope Leo’s message to the American church

Pope Francis’ vs. Pope Leo’s foreign policy

Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI’s foreign policies

What makes Pope Leo’s approach unique?

The Vatican’s endgame in Venezuela Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00

46:51

Download MP3

Share at current time

Show notes

Pope Leo XIV met with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado this week, only the latest in a monthslong series of statements and meetings that have shown the Vatican repeatedly pushing for peace. This week, David Gibson of Fordham University’s Center on Religion and Culture joins host Colleen Dulle to discuss Pope Leo’s approach to foreign policy.

Links from the show:

New York Times Opinion: Pope Leo Confronts Trump on His Own Terms

Pope Leo meets with Venezuelan opposition leader Machado

Washington Post: Inside the frantic global race to find an escape route for Maduro

George Orwell is more relevant than ever. Just ask the pope.

Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine!

41:20 The Vatican’s endgame in Venezuela Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

← See all 415 episodes of Inside The Vatican