The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday following weeks of public tensions between the Trump administration and the first American pope.
According to CNN, disagreements intensified after Pope Leo criticized the U.S. military operation in Iran and continued advocating for migrants and refugees, positions that sharply contrast with President Donald Trump and his administration.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the timing of his upcoming visit to the Vatican is not tied to a rift between President Trump and Pope Leo, and that it was ‘planned from before’ https://t.co/OPkIGlTP8R pic.twitter.com/utTLowSIG3
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 5, 2026
Trump recently accused the pope of being weak on foreign policy and claimed he was undermining the Catholic Church. Pope Leo responded by saying criticism is acceptable if it is grounded “with the truth.”
Rubio dismissed suggestions that the meeting is an effort to reset relations, but acknowledged there is “a lot to talk about,” including Cuba, migration, and global conflicts.
The report said Vatican officials hope the meeting will reduce tensions and return discussions to quieter diplomatic channels.
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