Marco Rubio Meets Pope Leo XIV After President Trump Criticized Pontiff
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday, just days after President Donald Trump publicly criticized the pope over disagreements involving immigration and the war with Iran.
Rubio, a practicing Catholic, held separate meetings with Pope Leo and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin during a visit that reportedly lasted roughly two and a half hours.
According to the State Department, the discussions focused on the Middle East, humanitarian issues in the Western Hemisphere, religious freedom, and broader efforts to promote peace and stability. Officials described the meetings as reinforcing the longstanding relationship between the United States and the Holy See.
The diplomatic visit comes amid growing tensions between Trump and the first American-born pope. Leo has repeatedly criticized hardline immigration policies and expressed concerns over military escalation involving Iran, positions that have drawn sharp responses from the administration.
Earlier this week, Trump accused the pope of being “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” while arguing the pontiff’s comments about Iran risked “endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people.”
Pope Leo pushed back against criticism during remarks to reporters, insisting that the Catholic Church’s position stems from longstanding religious teachings rather than political motivations. He reiterated the church’s opposition to nuclear weapons and stressed that dialogue is preferable to war.
At the same time, the pope acknowledged the church’s traditional recognition of self-defense and “just war” principles, though he argued modern warfare and advanced weapons require nations to rethink how conflicts are approached today.
Rubio’s trip also appears aimed at easing tensions between Washington and the Vatican following the public back-and-forth. The secretary of state said earlier in the week that discussions would include humanitarian issues, religious liberty, and the role of the Catholic Church in global aid efforts.
The dispute has also complicated relations between Trump and Giorgia Meloni, who criticized the attacks on the pope as “unacceptable.” Trump later fired back at the Italian prime minister in comments to an Italian newspaper.
Rubio is expected to continue meetings in Italy with Meloni and other senior officials as the administration works to maintain diplomatic coordination with key allies while tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate.