Top United States diplomat Marco Rubio visited the Vatican City on Thursday for high level talks with Pope Leo XIV amid growing tensions between the White House and the Vatican.
Rubio’s visit comes after a series of disagreements between United States President Donald Trump and the pope over international conflicts and foreign policy issues. The relationship reportedly became strained following criticism directed at Pope Leo XIV over his anti war comments and appeals for peace in the Middle East.
According to reports, Rubio arrived at the Vatican through the famous Via della Conciliazione leading to St Peter’s Basilica before proceeding to a private meeting with the pontiff. The US secretary of state was also scheduled to hold talks with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
The United States ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, described the planned discussions as likely to be frank and wide ranging. Vatican officials confirmed that the meeting was initiated by Washington and would address recent developments affecting relations between both sides.
Tensions escalated after President Trump publicly criticised Pope Leo XIV on social media, accusing him of being weak on crime and ineffective on foreign policy. The criticism followed the pope’s condemnation of threats related to the Middle East conflict and his opposition to nuclear weapons and war.
Despite the disagreements, Rubio said there were many important issues for both parties to discuss, including religious freedom and international diplomacy. Topics expected to feature prominently during the talks include Cuba, Latin America and Lebanon.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in history, has also drawn attention for his criticism of immigration crackdowns and his repeated calls for peace in conflict zones. Vatican officials defended the pope’s position, insisting that promoting peace remains central to the mission of the Catholic Church.
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