US Secretary of State Marco Rubio travelled to Vatican City on Thursday for a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Pope Leo XIV, in what observers widely interpreted as an effort to repair relations strained by President Donald Trump's repeated public attacks on the pontiff. The Vatican confirmed that the US had requested the meeting, which also included talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's top diplomat.
The visit comes after weeks of escalating friction between Washington and the Catholic Church's leadership. Trump has publicly accused Pope Leo of being "weak on crime" and "very bad at foreign policy," and this week claimed — without basis — that the pope would be comfortable with Iran possessing a nuclear weapon, accusing him of "endangering a lot of Catholics" by opposing the war in the Middle East. Pope Leo XIV, who made history as the first American-born pope, flatly rejected those characterisations on Tuesday, pointing out that the Church has opposed all nuclear weapons for decades. "If anyone wishes to criticise me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so with truth," he said. The pope has also continued to challenge the Trump administration's immigration policies, citing the New Testament in his public remarks.
Despite the diplomatic intent of the meeting, Rubio acknowledged to journalists that "there are obviously some things that have happened" — while also claiming the visit had been planned in advance. The two men met in the pope's private library and exchanged gifts: Rubio presented a crystal paperweight in the shape of an American football bearing the State Department seal, quipping, "What do you give someone who has everything?" The pope offered Rubio a pen made from olive wood — "the plant of peace," Leo noted — along with a photo book.
In a joint characterisation of the talks, the State Department said the meeting "underscores the strong bond between the United States and the Holy See and their shared commitment to advancing peace and human dignity," while the Vatican said discussions focused on regions "affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian conditions."
The diplomatic significance of the Holy See extends well beyond its small geographic footprint in Rome. As the spiritual authority for roughly 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, and a recognised sovereign entity with global diplomatic reach, the Vatican is considered a uniquely valuable interlocutor in times of conflict. Former US ambassador to the Vatican Miguel Diaz described the post as "a great listening post" with "eyes and ears everywhere." Trump's attacks on Leo drew criticism from multiple quarters, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, American Catholic clergy, and Iran's President Pezeshkian. Whether Rubio's visit translates into a lasting improvement in relations remains to be seen, with analysts noting that actions, not pleasantries, will ultimately define the relationship.