United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Vatican on Thursday for a crucial meeting with Pope Leo XIV amid growing tensions between the White House and the Holy See.
The meeting comes at a delicate moment in relations between Washington and the Vatican following recent criticism by U.S. President Donald Trump against the pontiff over his outspoken anti-war position.
Rubio’s convoy was seen driving through Via della Conciliazione, the main road leading to St Peter’s Basilica, before entering the Vatican for the private audience with the pope.
The US diplomat, who is a devout Catholic, has attempted to downplay reports of a widening divide between both sides ahead of the meeting.
After the audience with Pope Leo, Rubio was also scheduled to hold discussions with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch described the encounter as likely to involve a “frank conversation,” while Parolin noted that the Vatican was prepared to listen carefully during the talks initiated by Washington.
The relationship between the Trump administration and the Vatican has deteriorated significantly over the past year despite initial celebrations following the election of Pope Leo on May 8, 2025, making him the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church.
Last month, Trump launched an unusual public attack on the pope through social media, describing him as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.”
The criticism followed Pope Leo’s strong appeal for peace in the Middle East conflict involving Israel and the United States.
The pope also condemned Trump’s reported threat to destroy Iranian civilisation, calling such rhetoric “truly unacceptable.”
Speaking before his Vatican trip, Rubio admitted that recent developments had added tension to the relationship.
“There’s a lot to talk about with the Vatican,” Rubio told reporters at the White House, pointing especially to shared concerns about religious freedom.
Parolin also acknowledged that recent disagreements could not be ignored during discussions.
“I imagine we’ll talk about everything that’s happened in recent days , we can’t avoid touching on these topics,” he said.
Beyond the dispute involving Trump and the pope, the talks were expected to address broader international issues, including developments in Latin America, Cuba and Lebanon.
The Vatican has historically played an active diplomatic role in Cuba, while Rubio, who is Cuban-American, has strongly supported efforts by Washington to pressure the communist government in Havana.
Pope Leo is also deeply familiar with Latin America after spending nearly two decades as a missionary in Peru, where he later obtained citizenship.
Despite efforts to reduce tensions, Trump again criticised Pope Leo during an interview earlier this week, accusing the pontiff of believing it was acceptable for Iran to possess nuclear weapons.
“I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people,” Trump said.
Responding to the remarks, Pope Leo defended the Church’s long-standing position on peace and nuclear disarmament.
“If anyone wishes to criticise me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so truthfully,” the pope said while addressing reporters.
“The Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, so there is no doubt about that, and I simply hope to be heard for the sake of the value of God’s word.”
Parolin also reacted to the attacks against the pope, saying criticism of the Catholic leader appeared unusual.
“The pope is being the pope,” he remarked.
The pope has repeatedly criticised the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, but his increasingly vocal anti-war comments have drawn the strongest reaction from the White House.
Rubio and Pope Leo previously met at the Vatican last year alongside U.S. Vice President JD Vance, shortly after the pope’s historic election.
