Blinken also "reiterated U.S. support for a return to democracy in Venezuela and our desire to help the Venezuelan people rebuild their country," the State Department spokesman said.
"The Secretary, the Cardinal, and the Archbishop discussed global issues including migration, climate change, and efforts to expand distribution of vaccines against COVID-19," he said.
"They underscored the importance of addressing the challenges in Syria and Lebanon, as well as Ethiopia and Belarus."
The Secretary of State’s trip to Europe June 22-29 has included stops in France, Italy, and Germany.
In France, Blinken discussed the serious human rights violations against the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang, China -- something the Vatican Secretariat of State has yet to publicly comment on.
China was a major focus of last October’s visit to the Vatican by the previous U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo.
“There are two important aspects when we witness human rights violations, including such serious violations as seen in Xinjiang. We need to at least speak out; not only speak out but taking action with the available means,” Blinken said on June 25.
“But with the current situation, which is ongoing right now in Xinjiang against the Uyghurs, we should at least as an international community to shed a light on what is happening, to clearly speak out and say this is not acceptable, and through sanctions, to try at least to pressure those who are leading such policy, change their policy,” he said.
This article was updated at 8:00 to include statements from the U.S. Department of State on what was discussed in the meetings at the Vatican.
Courtney Mares is a Rome Correspondent for Catholic News Agency. A graduate of Harvard University, she has reported from news bureaus on three continents and was awarded the Gardner Fellowship for her work with North Korean refugees.