Vance, Zelensky Tense Handshake Marks Vatican Pope Leo XIV Inauguration

At Pope Leo XIV's inauguration mass at the Vatican, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky engaged in a brief, tense handshake that underscored lingering diplomatic strains following their heated Oval Office confrontation earlier in the year. The meeting took place amid one of Russia's largest drone attacks on Ukraine and shortly after inconclusive prisoner exchange talks between Russia and Ukraine. Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, emphasized themes of unity and peace, offering the Vatican as a venue for renewed peace talks between the conflicting nations. Despite previous public criticisms between Vance and the Pope, Vance expressed a commitment to prayer and support for the Church. The handshake and the ceremony highlighted the complex geopolitical tensions present even in religious and diplomatic settings during ongoing global conflicts. Other world leaders, including Lebanese and Israeli representatives, also shared rare moments of diplomacy at the event.