Upcoming Audience with Pope Leo XIV
The Holy See’s Press Office announced that Pope Leo XIV will meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 7. This meeting is part of Rubio’s upcoming visit to Italy and the Vatican, reportedly aimed at mending relations following President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
According to reports from Sunday evening, Rubio’s visit comes after he had criticized Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration for its perceived lack of support regarding the situation in Iran. He’s also expected to address the challenging circumstances facing Cuba after decades of communist rule, reflecting his background as a Cuban-American Catholic.
The Pope has pushed back against narratives suggesting that US-Vatican relations have soured. He made it clear that he has no desire to engage in a feud with President Trump, a stance that the White House seemed to appreciate.
Rubio’s visit will take place at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, but specific topics for discussion haven’t been disclosed. However, it’s worth noting that he had a similar meeting with the Pope nearly a year ago, shortly after Pope Leo was elected.
Italian media reported that Rubio’s recent visit was designed to enhance both diplomatic and personal ties. In April, President Trump issued statements critical of the Pope’s approach, accusing the Vatican of fostering fear regarding his administration’s policies, and even calling the Pope “soft on crime.” This included a bizarre incident in which Trump shared a computer-generated image of himself depicted as Jesus, though he later claimed it was intended to represent himself as a doctor. Meanwhile, the Pope had previously made statements that seemed to resonate with aspects of Trump’s foreign agenda, such as concerns over Christian persecution in Nigeria.
Later, the Pope clarified that his previous comments were misinterpreted as a direct commentary on Trump and were made before any unrest, stressing he wasn’t attempting to critique the President.
On the Italian side, there’s also a desire to avoid confrontation with the US. The conflict in Iran has led to some tensions, especially after reports emerged that Italy did not allow US bombers to land on its airbases during the crisis. Trump’s comments about possibly withdrawing US troops from Italy echoed frustrations about Italy’s support in the conflict.
In a recent interview, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini expressed support for Trump, thanking him for his bravery in adopting unpopular policies among European leaders. The Italian government officials, according to Salvini, were among the few who supported Trump during both his presidential terms and expressed hopes for a visit to the US.
During a recent public address, the Pope did not indicate any preparations for his meeting with Rubio. He instead spoke on World Press Freedom Day, advocating for journalists facing persecution globally and criticizing elitism.
The upcoming meeting, which coincides with the anniversary of Pope Leo’s election, might also cover issues beyond US-Vatican relations. Sources suggest that Rubio plans to raise concerns regarding the escalating repression of dissidents in Cuba, particularly targeting Christians, amidst a backdrop of significant growth among various Christian groups in the past decade.
Given past interactions, it’s notable that during Pope Francis’ time, the Vatican had engaged with Cuba’s leadership, facilitating agreements that benefited former President Barack Obama’s administration, without condemning the government’s human rights abuses. While Castro’s government extended an invitation to Pope Leo after his election, it remains to be seen whether he will adopt a similar approach toward Cuba as his predecessor.
