Rubio Denies Vatican Visit Is to Mend Ties with Trump and Pope

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed rumors that his upcoming trip to the Vatican is meant to ease tensions between Pope Leo XIV and President Donald Trump. Rubio is set to meet with the Pope on Thursday amidst a backdrop of heightened dialogue, especially regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran.

When asked by a reporter whether his visit was an attempt to repair the relationship between Trump and the Pope, Rubio replied, “No, I mean, this was a trip that we had planned for a long time, and of course some things happened. There are many things to discuss with the Vatican.” He pointed out recent issues like the Pope’s visit to Africa, where the Church is experiencing growth, and the shared concerns over religious freedom globally.

The State Department also indicated that Rubio’s discussions will cover the Middle East situation and areas of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere.

Recently, Pope Leo criticized nuclear weapons, emphasizing that those who wish to challenge him should do so honestly. In reaction, President Trump accused the Pope of endangering Catholics by supporting Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Rubio echoed these sentiments, stating that allowing Iran access to nuclear weapons poses a significant threat not only to Christians but to global peace as well.

“The president basically said that Iran can’t have nuclear weapons because they would use them against regions with many Catholics and Christians,” Rubio explained. “It’s perplexing why anyone, including the Pope, seems to overlook Iran’s dangerous intentions.” He cited ongoing conflicts in the Straits as evidence of Iran’s disregard for global stability.

In earlier remarks, Leo had condemned the Iran war, labeling it “unacceptable” and criticized Trump’s aggressive stance, which included threats to destroy Iran’s civilization if negotiations failed. Following these statements, Trump labeled the Pope “weak” on foreign policy issues in a post on Truth Social. The Pope responded with confidence, asserting he would continue his mission undeterred by criticisms.

In a controversial move, Trump also shared an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus on Orthodox Easter, which he later took down after backlash from the Christian community, claiming he believed it portrayed him as a doctor instead.