The U.S. and the Vatican haven’t always been close.
Formal diplomatic relations weren’t established until 1984.
From our archive but great historical context: https://theconversation.com/why-should-we-care-about-pope-francis-visit-to-the-us-47799
https://theconversation.com/why-should-we-care-about-pope-francis-visit-to-the-us-47799
