The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, will meet with Pope Leo XIV in the coming days during his trip to Rome. The meeting comes weeks after public criticisms of the Pontiff by President Donald Trump.
In addition to the audience with the Pope, Rubio will hold meetings with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, and with officials from the Italian Government.
A trip in a context of recent tensions
The visit comes after the harsh attacks by President Donald Trump against the Pontiff on social media last April, where he went so far as to call him “terrible,” causing discomfort in various ecclesiastical and political circles.
At the same time, Pope Leo XIV has adopted a more visible stance on the international scene in recent weeks, criticizing the war against Iran driven by the United States and Israel, as well as the restrictive immigration policies of the U.S. Administration.
Meetings with the Italian Government
During his stay in Rome, Rubio is scheduled to hold meetings with Italy’s Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, and Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, according to information gathered by Reuters and the Italian press.
According to Corriere della Sera, Rubio’s objective would also be to mend relations with Italy following Trump’s criticisms of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, considered one of his main allies in Europe.
At that time, Meloni publicly defended the Pope after Trump’s attacks, calling them “unacceptable.” This stance caused discomfort for the U.S. president, who went so far as to question her leadership and accuse her of not sufficiently supporting the United States within the framework of NATO.
One year after the first meeting
Rubio already met with the Pope in May 2025, along with Vice President JD Vance, during the events marking the start of the pontificate. Both participated in the inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Square and held a private meeting with the Pontiff.
An attempt to mend relations
Rubio’s visit is interpreted as an attempt to steer relations back on track with both the Vatican and the Italian Government, after weeks of verbal confrontations and disagreements on key issues such as the war in the Middle East or migration policy.
According to information from the Italian press, Rubio’s trip includes contacts aimed at addressing these issues on the diplomatic level; however, until now, neither the U.S. Department of State, nor the Vatican, nor the Italian Government have officially confirmed all the details of the visit program.