Marco Rubio Meets Pope Leo XIV Amid Growing Tensions Between Trump Administration and Vatican
Last update: May 7, 2026
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Diplomatic tensions between Washington and the Vatican escalated further as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in the Vatican for high-stakes talks with Pope Leo XIV following sharp criticism from President Donald Trump over the pope’s anti-war stance.
CBI News reports that top US diplomat Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday in what observers describe as a major diplomatic effort to ease worsening tensions between the White House and the Holy See.
Rubio’s visit comes amid growing fallout after US President Donald Trump publicly criticised Pope Leo XIV over his comments opposing war and violence in the Middle East.
AFP reporters observed Rubio’s motorcade arriving through Via della Conciliazione, the grand avenue leading to St. Peter’s Basilica, before entering the Vatican for the private audience.
The US Secretary of State, who is a devout Catholic, has attempted to downplay the diplomatic friction ahead of the meeting, which was also expected to include talks with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
US Ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, described the discussions as likely to involve a “frank conversation” between both sides.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Cardinal Parolin confirmed that Washington initiated the talks, stating, “We’ll listen to him.”
The relationship between the Trump administration and the Vatican has reportedly deteriorated despite initial celebrations following the historic election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025, making him the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church.
Last month, tensions escalated dramatically when Trump launched an unprecedented attack on the pontiff via social media, describing him as “WEAK on crime, and terrible for foreign policy.”
The criticism followed Pope Leo XIV’s calls for peace amid the ongoing Middle East conflict involving Israel and the United States. The pope also condemned Trump’s reported threat to destroy Iranian civilisation, calling the statement “truly unacceptable.”
Before departing for the Vatican, Rubio acknowledged the recent controversy but insisted the trip had already been scheduled before the diplomatic dispute intensified.
“There’s a lot to talk about with the Vatican,” Rubio told reporters at the White House, highlighting religious freedom as one area where Washington and the Holy See still share common ground.
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