Rubio Meets Pope Leo at Vatican Amid Trump Tensions
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Pope Leo at the Vatican to ease rising tensions after President Donald Trump's ongoing criticisms of the pontiff regarding the Iran conflict and nuclear issues. Their 2-1/2 hour discussion involved senior Vatican officials, including Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and addressed matters concerning the Middle East and shared interests in Latin America. According to US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, the meeting highlighted the robust relationship between the US and the Holy See, emphasizing their joint dedication to peace and human dignity. The pope was 40 minutes late for a following engagement, suggesting the meeting extended beyond its intended duration. Vatican images captured Rubio and Leo shaking hands at the pope's desk in the Apostolic Palace, marking the first encounter between the pope and a member of Trump's cabinet in almost a year.
Key facts
- Rubio met Pope Leo at Vatican on Thursday
- Meeting aimed to defuse tensions after Trump's attacks on pope over Iran war
- Rubio spent 2-1/2 hours at Vatican
- Met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and other senior Vatican officials
- Discussed Middle East and western hemisphere (Latin America)
- US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott commented on strong US-Holy See relations
- Pope arrived 40 minutes late for next appointment due to meeting length
- First meeting between pope and Trump cabinet official in nearly a year
Entities
Institutions
- US State Department
- Holy See
- Vatican
- Apostolic Palace
- Agence France-Presse
- South China Morning Post
Locations
- Vatican City
- Middle East
- Latin America
- western hemisphere
- United States
- Rome
- Italy