U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo at the Vatican on Thursday, May 7, 2026, to discuss diplomatic relations [1, 2].
The visit follows a period of escalating friction between the Holy See and the administration of President Donald Trump. The meeting serves as a strategic attempt to smooth relations that have been strained by the president's public criticisms of the pontiff [1, 3].
President Trump has repeatedly attacked Pope Leo, specifically citing disputes over the war in Iran and other policy disagreements [3]. In some instances, the president described the Pope as "WEAK on Crime" [1].
Rubio traveled to Italy to act as a diplomatic bridge, notably without the accompaniment of Vice President JD Vance [3]. Rubio said the encounter with the Pope was "great" [1].
Reports on the atmosphere of the summit vary. While Rubio expressed a positive outlook, other accounts suggest the meeting was tense and that the Vatican humiliated the Secretary of State [1].
Outside of the diplomatic summit in Rome, Pope Leo has remained active in public engagements. The pontiff recently visited the city of Naples, where he greeted approximately 50,000 citizens [4].
Rubio said the meeting was an effort to maintain a functional relationship between the U.S. and the Vatican despite the personal animosity between the president and the Pope [1, 2].
“Rubio said the meeting was "great".”
This diplomatic mission indicates a divide in the administration's approach to the Vatican, where Secretary Rubio is tasked with maintaining institutional stability while President Trump continues to use the Pope as a rhetorical target. The contrast between Rubio's positive assessment and reports of a 'humiliating' summit suggests that while a meeting occurred, the underlying ideological rift regarding global conflict and crime remains unresolved.
