Rubio to meet Pope Leo amid tensions with Trump
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Pope Leo XIV in Rome this week, following a recent clash between the pontiff and President Donald Trump.
ROME: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Pope Leo XIV during his trip to Rome this week, in the wake of the pontiff's dispute with President Donald Trump.
According to a Vatican source, the meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, aiming to improve relations between the two parties.
The news of the meeting aligns with reports from Italian media outlets.
It comes after Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV over anti-war rhetoric and his stance against US actions such as the conflict in Iran.
The Italian government has confirmed that Rubio will also meet with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
Rubio had requested a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a close ally of Trump, following her defense of Pope Leo XIV. Additionally, he is expected to meet Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, highlighting the deepening rift in transatlantic ties over the Middle East war.
Pope Leo XIV, who will mark one year as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics this Friday, has been vocal about his opposition to war.
His criticism of the Trump administration's immigration policies and his recent anti-war statements have not resonated well with the US president.
Trump labeled the pontiff 'weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy,' expressing disapproval towards Pope Leo's stance on Iran's nuclear weapon potential.
The dispute between Trump and Pope Leo XIV gained further traction when the latter stated that he has a moral duty to speak out against war, leading to international support from various Christian groups.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also condemned Trump's remarks, which prompted a backlash from the US president who questioned her courage and accused her of failing to assist with NATO.
Trump has previously threatened to withdraw US troops from Italy and Spain due to their perceived lack of support in the ongoing conflict.
As of December 31, 2025, there were 12,662 active-duty US troops in Italy and 3,814 in Spain, compared to 36,436 troops in Germany.
In a recent address at St. Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV marked World Press Freedom Day, highlighting the violation of press freedom worldwide, including instances where journalists have been harmed by violence or war.
According to a Vatican source, the meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, aiming to improve relations between the two parties.
The news of the meeting aligns with reports from Italian media outlets.
It comes after Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV over anti-war rhetoric and his stance against US actions such as the conflict in Iran.
The Italian government has confirmed that Rubio will also meet with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
Rubio had requested a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a close ally of Trump, following her defense of Pope Leo XIV. Additionally, he is expected to meet Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, highlighting the deepening rift in transatlantic ties over the Middle East war.
Pope Leo XIV, who will mark one year as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics this Friday, has been vocal about his opposition to war.
His criticism of the Trump administration's immigration policies and his recent anti-war statements have not resonated well with the US president.
Trump labeled the pontiff 'weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy,' expressing disapproval towards Pope Leo's stance on Iran's nuclear weapon potential.
The dispute between Trump and Pope Leo XIV gained further traction when the latter stated that he has a moral duty to speak out against war, leading to international support from various Christian groups.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also condemned Trump's remarks, which prompted a backlash from the US president who questioned her courage and accused her of failing to assist with NATO.
Trump has previously threatened to withdraw US troops from Italy and Spain due to their perceived lack of support in the ongoing conflict.
As of December 31, 2025, there were 12,662 active-duty US troops in Italy and 3,814 in Spain, compared to 36,436 troops in Germany.
In a recent address at St. Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV marked World Press Freedom Day, highlighting the violation of press freedom worldwide, including instances where journalists have been harmed by violence or war.
