Pope Leo and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have committed to strengthening relations between the Vatican and Washington following a meeting on Thursday, the Holy See said, amid rising tensions between the pontiff and U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Vatican said Leo and Rubio “renewed the shared commitment to fostering good bilateral relations” during what marked the first meeting between the pope and a Trump cabinet official in nearly a year.
The encounter comes as Trump has repeatedly criticized Leo, the first U.S. pope, particularly over the war involving Iran and the administration’s hardline immigration stance. The Vatican said the meeting took place in a “strong” atmosphere of dialogue, according to comments from U.S. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.
Pope Leo XIV meets U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican, May 7, 2026. Vatican Media/Simone Risoluti/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY
Rubio spent around two and a half hours at the Vatican, also meeting senior officials including Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s top diplomat.
The U.S. embassy to the Holy See said on X that discussions included “topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere,” while the Vatican said the talks also covered global conflicts and “the need to work tirelessly in favor of peace.”
The meeting appeared to run longer than scheduled, with Pope Leo arriving 40 minutes late for a subsequent engagement and thanking staff for their patience.
Video released by the Vatican showed Rubio greeting the pope and the two exchanging formal pleasantries. Rubio, a Catholic, later presented Leo with a small crystal football, joking that he knew the pope, originally from Chicago, was a fan of baseball. Leo, in turn, gave Rubio a wooden pen made from an olive tree, which he described as “the plant of peace.”
Pope Leo XIV meets U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican, May 7, 2026. Vatican Media/Simone Risoluti/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY
Rubio had previously said he expected to discuss Cuba and global religious freedom during the visit. The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See had also described the expected talks as “frank.”
The meeting comes after Trump intensified criticism of the pope, including claims that Leo supported Iran acquiring nuclear weapons—an assertion the Vatican rejected. Leo has said he is promoting a Christian message of peace and has firmly opposed nuclear weapons, which the Catholic Church considers immoral.
Leo, who marks one year as leader of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church on Friday, has recently become more vocal on global issues, including criticism of what he described as rising global disorder during a recent Africa tour.
Earlier in the day, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also met the pope, saying they discussed strengthening international cooperation and maintaining hope in global affairs.
