Pope Leo XIV is set to welcome U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Vatican this Thursday, as reported by Italian media citing EFE. This meeting aims to mend the strained relations between Washington and the Holy See following the public spat between the pontiff and President Donald Trump.
The conflict erupted on April 7 when Leo XIV condemned Trump's threat to "end an entire civilization" amidst the U.S. and Israel's conflict with Iran, labeling it as "unacceptable."
In response, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social in mid-April, denouncing the pope as "weak" and "terrible in foreign policy." He further accused the pontiff of associating with leftist figures and causing "great harm" to the Catholic Church.
Days later, the pope boldly stated, "No, I am not afraid of the Trump administration, nor of proclaiming the Gospel message loudly, which is why I believe I am here, and why the Church is here. We are not politicians, we do not view foreign policy from the same lens, but as peacebuilders."
Trump retorted by highlighting, "Iran has killed 42,000 innocent protesters in the last two months," urging someone to inform His Holiness about the atrocities committed by the ayatollahs' regime. Hours later, during an interfaith peace gathering in Cameroon, Leo XIV remarked, "A few tyrants are destroying the world," which was interpreted as a continuation of his exchange with Trump. However, the pope sought to ease tensions by clarifying that his homily had been prepared weeks prior and that he had no interest in engaging in a conflict with the U.S. president.
The discord between Trump and the Vatican extended beyond words: the Republican administration terminated a longstanding over 60-year contract with the Catholic Church in Miami for the care of migrant children, a decision that Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami linked directly to the friction between Trump and the pope.
Rubio's upcoming visit to the Vatican marks not his first since the beginning of this papacy. On May 19, 2025, Leo XIV had previously met with Rubio and Vice President JD Vance a day following his inaugural mass, in a diplomatic gesture of goodwill.
During that visit, Rubio also engaged in discussions with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the secretary for relations with states.
Leo XIV, known as Robert Francis Prevost in secular life and born in Chicago in 1955, stands as the first American pope in history. Before his election, he distanced himself from Trump's agenda, criticizing Vance for prioritizing Christian love and opposing the Republican administration's immigration policies.
On Friday, May 8, the first anniversary of his election as the 267th pontiff will be marked by a visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii, near Naples.
Insights on the Vatican Meeting and U.S.-Vatican Relations
What is the purpose of Marco Rubio's meeting with Pope Leo XIV?
The meeting aims to improve the strained relations between Washington and the Holy See, following a public dispute between Pope Leo XIV and President Donald Trump.
How did the conflict between Trump and Pope Leo XIV begin?
The conflict began when Pope Leo XIV criticized Trump's threat against Iran, which Trump countered by criticizing the pope's foreign policy stance.
What are some actions taken as a result of the Trump-Vatican tensions?
The Trump administration canceled a long-standing contract with the Catholic Church in Miami for the care of migrant children, linked directly to the tensions with the pope.