US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets Pope Leo XIV in Rome to repair diplomatic ties
The meeting, requested by the US government, marks the first engagement between the pontiff and a Trump administration official in nearly a year
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived at the Vatican to engage in a closed-door meeting with Pope Leo XIV, an initiative designed to repair diplomatic relations strained by repeated public criticism from President Donald Trump. The session, which is expected to last approximately half an hour, represents a significant diplomatic effort to restore normalcy between Washington and the Holy See after a period of heightened tension.
According to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the engagement was initiated by the US government, with the pontiff prepared to listen carefully to the Secretary of State's position. US Ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, indicated to journalists that the dialogue between the Pope and Rubio is likely to be frank, suggesting a direct exchange of views on the recent deterioration of ties.
The core of the dispute centres on President Trump's public attacks regarding the Pope's opposition to the US-Israel war on Iran. In recent statements, the President accused the pontiff of endangering Catholics and falsely claimed that the Vatican supported Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Pope Leo XIV has firmly denied these allegations, reiterating the Church's long-standing stance that all nuclear arms are immoral and that its mission is to preach peace.
Tensions were further complicated by the Pope's recent comments during a four-country trip to Africa, where he declared the world was being ravaged by a handful of tyrants. Although the pontiff later clarified that these remarks were not directed at the US President, the incident contributed to the broader friction. Cardinal Parolin previously described the President's attacks as strange but avoided making personal judgments on the matter.
This meeting marks the first known interaction between the Pope and a Trump administration official in nearly a year, highlighting the severity of the diplomatic rift. Following the session with the pontiff, Secretary of State Rubio is scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has publicly defended the Pope against the criticisms levied by the US President.
While the specific topics discussed during the closed-door meeting remain undisclosed, the engagement is viewed as a procedural step to restore diplomatic norms. It remains uncertain whether the dialogue will result in a moderation of the Pope's public views or simply serve to stabilise the relationship between the two institutions.
