Vatican Talks: Jonathan Morris on Meeting with Rubio and Pope Leo XIV
FOX News contributor Jonathan Morris discusses Secretary Rubio’s notable meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, focusing on global conflicts. He highlights the contrast between President Trump’s firm position regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the Pope’s ongoing calls for peace and disarmament. This meeting coincides with the one-year anniversary of Pope Leo’s election.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Thursday amid rising tensions between Italy and the Vatican. This comes just a day after Rubio, a practicing Catholic, met with Pope Leo and church leaders at the Vatican. Many view this meeting as a way to ease relations, which have been strained lately following some harsh exchanges between Trump and the Holy See.
During much of Trump’s second term, Meloni was perceived as one of his closest ideological allies among European leaders. However, their relationship has faced challenges, particularly over the Iran conflict.
The political alliance has seen some strain in recent months, particularly with Trump’s escalating tensions with Pope Leo. The relationship was once seen as supportive; Meloni was even the only European leader present at Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025.
In public, their interactions typically seemed warm. For instance, during a 2025 summit in Egypt, Trump praised Meloni as a “beautiful young woman” and acknowledged her as an “incredible leader.” They notably shared opinions on stricter border policies, critiqued the prevailing “woke” ideologies in Western institutions, and sought to bolster nationalist identities in their countries. Meloni’s party, Brothers of Italy, has often been referenced as a model for populist movements reshaping Europe.
However, a noticeable rift appeared when Meloni condemned Trump’s critique of the Pope, labeling it “unacceptable.” In response, Trump reportedly expressed disappointment, suggesting Meloni wasn’t as aligned with him as he had thought.
Italian media and European analysts see this dispute as a significant shift away from the previous friendly rapport between the two leaders.
This dispute is particularly touchy for Meloni, as Pope Leo, being the first American-born pope, holds considerable sway in Italy. Criticism of the Pope from foreign officials can quickly turn politically harmful. Many Italian Catholics, along with segments of the political establishment, reacted strongly to Trump’s remarks about the Pope’s stance on the Iran war.
Additionally, the Iran conflict complicates matters. Italian officials have voiced concerns regarding potential U.S. military escalation and the impact on access to U.S. military bases in Italy. Consequently, Rome is increasingly pressured to distance itself from Washington’s stance on the conflict.
Economic tensions lurk in the background as well. Earlier this year, Trump reduced tariffs on certain Italian goods, including pasta, as a gesture of goodwill. Yet, doubts linger in both Rome and Brussels about his administration’s ongoing threats to impose broader tariffs on European imports.
Given this backdrop, Rubio’s visit is widely perceived as an attempt to stabilize relations before any further political discord arises. He is anticipated to engage with Meloni and other Italian officials on various issues, including Middle East security, NATO collaboration, migration, and trade, as the administration aims to reinforce Italy’s role as a key ally in southern Europe.
The White House and the Italian Embassy in the U.S. were not available for comments.
