U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Pope Leo XIV during a trip to Rome this week, a Vatican source confirmed on Sunday. The meeting comes in the wake of a public clash between the pontiff and President Donald Trump over the pope’s anti-war stance.
Diplomatic Thaw Attempt
Italian media reports indicate that the meeting is set for Thursday and is intended to help thaw relations between the United States and the Vatican. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the reports. Rubio’s visit follows Trump’s extraordinary criticism of Pope Leo XIV, who has been vocal in his opposition to war and the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Meetings with Italian Officials
An Italian government source earlier told AFP that Rubio would also meet Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Additionally, Rubio has requested a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, one of Trump’s closest European allies. However, Trump recently turned on Meloni after she defended the pope following Trump’s remarks.
Media reports suggest Rubio is also scheduled to meet Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, amid a deepening rift in transatlantic ties over the Middle East war.
Pope Leo’s First Year
Pope Leo XIV, 70, will mark one year as leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics on Friday. He was elected by cardinals on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis. As the first pope from the United States, his words have carried significant weight in Washington. He has used his platform to criticize the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration and its military actions.
Trump’s Ire
The pontiff’s increasing anti-war rhetoric, particularly following U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, triggered Trump’s anger. Leo declared Trump’s threat to destroy Iran “unacceptable” and urged Americans to demand that lawmakers “work for peace.” In response, Trump slammed the pontiff on social media, calling him “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.” Trump also said he was “not a big fan of Pope Leo” and did not want a pope who thinks it is acceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
Pope’s Response
The pontiff responded by stating he had a “moral duty to speak out” against war. He later sparked headlines with a speech in Cameroon lambasting “tyrants” ransacking the world, though he insisted the remarks were written long before the row and were not intended to start a new debate with Trump.
Meloni’s Defense
Christians worldwide expressed solidarity with the pope, and Meloni condemned Trump’s remarks as “unacceptable.” This prompted Trump to turn his fire on her, saying in an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, “I’m shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong.” He accused Meloni, a far-right leader who has sought to bridge U.S. and European views, of failing to help the United States with NATO.
Troop Threats
Trump has threatened to pull U.S. troops from Italy, claiming Rome “has not been of any help to us” in the Iran war. Similar threats have been made toward Spain, while the Pentagon announced it will withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany. As of December 31, 2025, there were 12,662 active-duty U.S. troops in Italy, 3,814 in Spain, and 36,436 in Germany.
