Washington, April 9 -- American officials allegedly threatened Pope Leo XIV's US ambassador by invoking the Avignon Papacy, the period when the French Monarchy used military force to bend the Bishop of Rome to its will, according to a report from Letters from Leo.

In a closed-door meeting at the Pentagon, the Under Secretary of Defence for Policy (USDP), Elbridge Colby, summoned Pope Leo XIV's then ambassador to the US, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, and delivered a lecture.

Journalist Mattia Ferraresi from The Free Press spoke to Vatican officials who confirmed the Pentagon meeting. Colby and other officials reportedly tried to influence and intimidate the Catholic Church to align with US policy.

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