Pope Leo Rejects Trump's Attack, Rubio to Hold 'Frank' Meeting with Pope
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to have a 'frank' meeting with Pope Leo during his visit to the Vatican on Thursday.
VATICAN CITY: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to engage in a "frank" dialogue with Pope Leo during his upcoming visit to the Vatican, according to the US ambassador.
This comes after President Donald Trump took a fresh swipe at the pope for criticizing the US-Israeli war in Iran.
Brian Burch, the US ambassador to the Holy See, stated that Rubio's approach is centered around fostering fraternity and authentic dialogue between nations with differing viewpoints.
He expressed confidence that Secretary Rubio will engage in constructive conversation regarding US policy.
Trump has consistently been critical of Pope Leo in recent weeks, sparking a backlash from various Christian leaders across the political spectrum.
In his latest comments on a right-wing radio talk show, Trump criticized Pope Leo for allegedly supporting Iran's nuclear program and questioned his stance on the ongoing conflict.
However, it is important to note that Pope Leo has never directly advocated for Iran to possess nuclear weapons but has been vocal in opposing the war.
Pope Leo addressed these criticisms by reaffirming the Christian message of peace and emphasizing the importance of spreading God's teachings.
He clarified that if criticized for preaching the Gospel, he hopes to be heard due to the inherent value of God's words.
Additionally, Pope Leo firmly dismissed any suggestions that he supports nuclear weapons, highlighting the Catholic Church's long-standing opposition to all nuclear arms.
Rubio, a Catholic himself, is expected to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday, who has been vocal in her support for Pope Leo.
During his visit, Rubio aims to promote mutual understanding between the US and the Vatican and address any differences through open dialogue.
Pope Leo, marking one year as leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church this Friday, has gradually taken a more active stance on global issues in recent weeks.
He has criticized both the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies and called for dialogue between the US and Cuba.
The ongoing conflict in Iran and the strained relationship between the Vatican and the current US administration continue to be closely monitored by observers around the world.
This comes after President Donald Trump took a fresh swipe at the pope for criticizing the US-Israeli war in Iran.
Brian Burch, the US ambassador to the Holy See, stated that Rubio's approach is centered around fostering fraternity and authentic dialogue between nations with differing viewpoints.
He expressed confidence that Secretary Rubio will engage in constructive conversation regarding US policy.
Trump has consistently been critical of Pope Leo in recent weeks, sparking a backlash from various Christian leaders across the political spectrum.
In his latest comments on a right-wing radio talk show, Trump criticized Pope Leo for allegedly supporting Iran's nuclear program and questioned his stance on the ongoing conflict.
However, it is important to note that Pope Leo has never directly advocated for Iran to possess nuclear weapons but has been vocal in opposing the war.
Pope Leo addressed these criticisms by reaffirming the Christian message of peace and emphasizing the importance of spreading God's teachings.
He clarified that if criticized for preaching the Gospel, he hopes to be heard due to the inherent value of God's words.
Additionally, Pope Leo firmly dismissed any suggestions that he supports nuclear weapons, highlighting the Catholic Church's long-standing opposition to all nuclear arms.
Rubio, a Catholic himself, is expected to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday, who has been vocal in her support for Pope Leo.
During his visit, Rubio aims to promote mutual understanding between the US and the Vatican and address any differences through open dialogue.
Pope Leo, marking one year as leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church this Friday, has gradually taken a more active stance on global issues in recent weeks.
He has criticized both the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies and called for dialogue between the US and Cuba.
The ongoing conflict in Iran and the strained relationship between the Vatican and the current US administration continue to be closely monitored by observers around the world.
