Secretary of State Marco Rubio Meets with Pope Leo XIV
On May 7, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio continued diplomatic efforts by meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City. This meeting is part of a three-day visit to Italy and the Vatican, amidst growing tensions between the Pope and President Donald Trump regarding issues in the Middle East.
Rubio’s meeting with Vatican leadership took place at 11:30 a.m. local time. The discussions focused on the situation in the Middle East as well as shared interests in the Western Hemisphere, according to the State Department.
A statement from Rubio highlighted the aim of promoting peace and human rights during the talks with the Pope and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
In a press conference earlier, Rubio addressed the ongoing disagreement between Trump and the Pope concerning the Iran conflict. He clarified that the purpose of the visit wasn’t specifically to mediate this discord.
While it’s known that Pope Leo typically adopts anti-war stances, both Trump and Rubio expressed serious concerns about the global implications if Iran were to develop nuclear capabilities.
Rubio noted, “This is a trip that we’ve been planning for a long time, and obviously, some things happened. Look, there’s a lot to discuss with the Vatican.” He also mentioned the Pope’s recent trip to Africa and their shared concerns regarding religious freedom worldwide.
Rubio also brought up a $6 million humanitarian aid package designated for Cuba that the U.S. has been unable to distribute directly due to government restrictions.
“Obviously they won’t allow us to distribute it. We distributed it through the church,” he explained, adding that the U.S. is prepared to increase humanitarian aid, contingent on the Cuban regime permitting it.
Rubio acknowledged the Catholic Church’s global influence, stating that the U.S. often collaborates with the Vatican, especially on humanitarian issues and protecting religious freedom, particularly concerning minorities facing persecution.
“This visit has nothing to do with anything other than the fact that we normally engage with them and past secretaries of state have done so,” he added.
Later in the week, Rubio is expected to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, focusing on shared security interests and strategic partnerships. While Meloni has been considered a vital ally, she has received criticism from Trump for not fully backing his stance on Iran and for her remarks about the Pope.
Interestingly, both Italy and Spain have denied permission for U.S. bases to be involved in military operations against Iran. Concurrently, Trump has threatened to withdraw U.S. troops from both nations, as part of a larger plan that includes repositioning 5,000 U.S. service members currently stationed in Germany.
During his meeting with the Pope, Rubio spent more than two hours discussing various topics. This trip marks his second engagement with the Holy See in less than a year, following a similar meeting held by Secretary of State and Vice President J.D. Vance shortly after taking office.
