Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Prairie Gates

(8,242 posts)
Wed Apr 8, 2026, 08:28 PM 14 hrs ago

Why is an Undersecretary of Defense summoning an ambassador of any kind, much less

the ambassador to the Holy See?

This question goes to the story making the rounds that Undersecretary of Defense "for Policy Elbridge Colby summoned Cardinal Christophe Pierre — Pope Leo XIV’s then-ambassador to the United States" to the Pentagon, of all places, for a meeting.

Most of the responses to this have quite rightly taken Colby and other Pentagon officials to task for the content of the meeting, threatening the Vatican and invoking the Avignon Papacy and other completely bonkers breaches of basic diplomatic behavior.

But I'm interested in the breach of form as well. Under what auspices can an Undersecretary of Defense summon an ambassador? That's the State Department's job. Was he brought there under the guise of discussing chaplain related issues? I mean, seriously, what the fuck? In what theory of government does the Department of Defense request foreign policy meetings with sitting ambassadors?

The DU story: https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=21158846

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Why is an Undersecretary of Defense summoning an ambassador of any kind, much less (Original Post) Prairie Gates 14 hrs ago OP
Everyone has been granted Rubio Immunity bucolic_frolic 14 hrs ago #1
Interestingly, Colby is a Catholic, therefore Sneederbunk 13 hrs ago #2
US Catholics are mostly actually Protestants in doctrine and belief and practice these days Prairie Gates 12 hrs ago #3
That isn't true at all obamanut2012 2 hrs ago #5
Further reports call this summoning of the Ambassador to the Pentagon "unprecedented" Prairie Gates 3 hrs ago #4
Why is a psychotic serial killer destroying the world brick by brick? 617Blue 2 hrs ago #6
Valid questions GusBob 3 min ago #7

Sneederbunk

(17,535 posts)
2. Interestingly, Colby is a Catholic, therefore
Wed Apr 8, 2026, 09:18 PM
13 hrs ago

guaranteeing himself a one way ticket to the netherworld.

Prairie Gates

(8,242 posts)
3. US Catholics are mostly actually Protestants in doctrine and belief and practice these days
Wed Apr 8, 2026, 10:54 PM
12 hrs ago

Not surprising they would undermine perfectly doctrinal statements by the Pope.

GusBob

(8,267 posts)
7. Valid questions
Thu Apr 9, 2026, 11:13 AM
3 min ago

I think the answer has to do with Hegseth (Christian Nationalist ) and Anti-DEI.

They were on a new crusade to eliminate "woke" from the military. They want someone like that fascist leaning fella whats his name Fr Coughlin? from WW2

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Why is an Undersecretary ...