Pope Leo meets Rubio amid growing tensions with Trump over Iran
Rubio seeks to calm a rift with the first U.S. pope while raising humanitarian aid to Cuba and religious freedom concerns, officials said.
- On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican for a roughly 30-minute closed-door audience requested by Washington to address diplomatic tensions following weeks of public criticism.
- President Donald Trump's public attacks on Leo XIV—calling him 'weak' and 'terrible on foreign policy'—sparked the diplomatic rift after the Pope criticized the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. Trump falsely claimed the Pope supported Iran's nuclear weapons.
- Rubio plans to discuss religious freedom worldwide and $6 million in humanitarian aid to Cuba. Ambassador Brian Burch told reporters the conversation would be 'frank,' aimed at working through differences.
- Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin stated on Wednesday the Pope remains open to dialogue, emphasizing that despite difficulties, the United States remains a key partner for the Holy See.
- Rubio will also meet Friday with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has defended the Pope against Trump's attacks, as the visit aims to stabilize U.S.-Vatican influence amid broader transatlantic tensions over the Iran war.
179 Articles
179 Articles
Rubio brings ‘Peace Through Strength’ agenda to Vatican talks with Pope Leo XIV
VATICAN CITY — Secretary Marco Rubio brought the administration’s “peace through strength” agenda right to the heart of the Vatican on Thursday, clocking a marathon session with Pope Leo XIV. The visit at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace lasted approximately two and a half hours. The extended time is seen as highly unusual for a standard papal audience.… The post Rubio brings ‘Peace Through Strength’ agenda to Vatican talks with Pope Leo XIV appea…
The Daily Advance
The Latest: Rubio meets with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican after Trump’s criticism over Iran
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed “efforts to achieve a durable peace in the Middle East” in talks at the Vatican aimed at easing tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Pope Leo XIV. Rubio met with Leo…
Pope Leo the Fourteenth received the American Secretary of State Rubio for a meeting against the background of tensions with the US government.
Rubio holds ‘constructive’ meeting with Pope Leo after Trump sends hard-line Iran message to Vatican
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo at the Vatican for "constructive" conversations on Thursday following heightened tensions between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo over the U.S.-Iran conflict."The conversations today were friendly and constructive," a State Department official told Fox News Digital.Rubio, a Catholic, held a private meeting with the pope to reaffirm the Vatican-U.S. partnership early on Thursday morning. Trump …
In his audience with the Pope, Marco Rubio is sitting on the back of the angry US President. Whether he has succeeded in smoothing the waves is difficult to say. Both sides subsequently expressed vaguely optimistically.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
