Pope Leo meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican (Vatican News)
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, held a significant meeting with Pope Leo XIV today, coinciding with a challenging phase in relations between Washington and the Vatican.
The discussions focused on “the situation in the Middle East and topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere,” according to a brief statement released by the US State Department.
The meeting highlighted the enduring partnership between the United States and the Holy See, emphasizing their shared dedication to fostering peace and human dignity.
Rubio spent over two hours inside the Apostolic Palace, though it remains unclear how long his conversation with the Pope lasted, as he was also scheduled to meet with other Vatican officials.
Prior to the meeting, Rubio indicated that he intended to address issues concerning Cuba with the Pope. The Trump administration has provided substantial humanitarian assistance to the island through the Catholic Church.
The visit comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s notable criticisms of the first American pope in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history, following the pontiff’s opposition to US military actions in Iran. Leo has consistently advocated for the rights of refugees and migrants, contrasting sharply with Trump’s policies.
Rubio arrived in Rome this morning, just a day before Leo’s first anniversary as pope, before heading to the Apostolic Palace for their meeting.
Before his departure, Rubio dismissed suggestions that his audience with Pope Leo was an attempt to reset diplomatic ties with the Vatican, which has long served as a humanitarian ally for the US. He acknowledged, however, that “there’s a lot to discuss with the Vatican,” particularly regarding Cuba.
“The trip is really not tied to anything other than the fact that it would be normal for us to engage with them,” Rubio stated at a White House press briefing earlier this week.
His visit to Rome and the Vatican comes as Trump has criticized not only the Pope for his stance on the war but also US allies in Europe, straining transatlantic relations in unprecedented ways.
Rubio is also scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni on Friday amid ongoing criticisms from President Trump regarding Italy’s perceived lack of support for US military efforts against Iran.
Following his meeting with the Pope, Rubio is expected to engage with other senior Vatican officials, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State for the Holy See.
This marks Rubio’s second encounter with Pope Leo XIV, who hails from Chicago, and it is the first known meeting between a member of the current administration and Leo in nearly a year.
Rubio and Vice President, JD Vance, had previously met him after his inauguration mass last year.
In a lengthy post on Truth Social last month, President Trump criticized Leo as “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.” He urged Leo to “get his act together as Pope” and focus on being an effective leader rather than engaging in politics, claiming it was detrimental to both him and the Catholic Church.
Pope Leo responded the following day, stating he had “no fear” of the Trump administration and would continue advocating for peace but insisted it was “not in my interest” to debate the president.
A Vatican official later downplayed tensions, noting with a smile that “President Trump is too intelligent to be in a battle with a pope from the United States.”
However, President Trump’s ongoing critiques of Leo are both unprecedented and relentless.
On Monday, he once again targeted the Pope, alleging that he was “endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people” by suggesting that Leo was complacent about Iran possessing nuclear weapons.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong