US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has met with Pope Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday, in a high-level diplomatic engagement aimed at easing growing tensions between the White House and the Holy See.
Gatekeepers News reports that Rubio arrived at the Vatican for talks with the first US-born pope against the backdrop of strained relations triggered by criticism from US President Donald Trump over the pontiff’s anti-war stance.
The US secretary of state’s motorcade was seen driving along Via della Conciliazione, the main avenue leading to St Peter’s Basilica, before entering Vatican City.
Rubio, a practising Catholic, is expected to hold a private audience with the pope before further discussions with Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
US Ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, described the meeting as likely to be a “frank conversation,” while Parolin said the Vatican would approach the talks with openness.
“We’ll listen to him,” Parolin said, noting that the meeting was initiated by Washington.
Strained US–Vatican Relations
The visit comes after months of rising diplomatic friction. The Trump administration had initially welcomed the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025 — the first US pontiff in history — but relations have since deteriorated.
Tensions escalated after President Donald Trump criticised the pope in unusually direct terms, following Leo’s calls for peace in conflicts involving the Middle East.
Trump reportedly described the pontiff as “WEAK on crime, and terrible for foreign policy,” after the pope condemned threats of military escalation against Iran as “truly unacceptable.”
Before departing for the Vatican, Rubio acknowledged the sensitivity of the situation.
“There’s a lot to talk about with the Vatican,” he told reporters at the White House, adding that discussions would include issues such as religious freedom and global conflicts.
He noted that the meeting had been planned prior to the recent public dispute.
Vatican Response
Vatican officials have downplayed the political tensions, stressing the importance of dialogue.
Cardinal Parolin said ahead of the meeting: “I imagine we’ll talk about everything that’s happened in recent days — we can’t avoid touching on these topics.”
He added that broader global issues, including Latin America, Cuba, and Lebanon, would also be discussed.
The Vatican has long maintained diplomatic engagement with Cuba, while Rubio—whose family has Cuban roots—has been involved in US policy efforts concerning the island nation.
Pope Leo XIV also has strong ties to Latin America, having spent two decades as a missionary in Peru and later acquiring Peruvian citizenship.
“The Pope Is Being the Pope”
Despite efforts to ease tensions, Trump continued his criticism earlier this week, questioning the pope’s stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and accusing him of endangering Catholics.
In response, Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Church’s long-standing position on peace and nuclear disarmament.
“If anyone wishes to criticise me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so truthfully,” he said.
“The Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, so there is no doubt about that, and I simply hope to be heard for the sake of the value of God’s word.”
Cardinal Parolin dismissed the criticism, saying: “Attacking the pope seems a little strange to me. The pope is being the pope.”
Rubio and Pope Leo XIV previously met last year shortly after the pontiff’s election, alongside US Vice President JD Vance, marking an earlier moment of engagement between the Vatican and Washington.
